Mets latest roster move justifies Brewers decision in Freddy Peralta blockbuster

Back in January, the Milwaukee Brewers dealt Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers to the New York Mets in a blockbuster deal. In the trade, New York saw their No. 3 and No. 5 prospects, infielder Jett Williams and pitcher Brandon Sproat, head to the Midwest.

With Peralta's trade value being significantly high, thanks to the rarity of having an affordable $8 million remaining on his contract while coming off three consecutive seasons with 30+ starts and 200+ strikeouts, the Brewers essentially had their pick of prospects from the New York Mets system.

They ultimately chose to swing big by including Myers in the deal and landing MLB-ready prospects Williams and Sproat, both of whom could find themselves in Rookie of the Year talks by season's end. However, Milwaukee could have targeted other prospects as well, with RHP Nolan McLean, OF Carson Benge, and RHP Jonah Tong also potential options. Notably, McLean likely would have been the toughest to acquire following his breakout rookie season in 2025 at the major league level.

Recently, a roster move made by the Mets involving Tong further supports the idea that the Brewers made the right decision in choosing Sproat in the blockbuster trade centered around Peralta.

New York Mets option Jonah Tong to Triple-A, while Brandon Sproat competes for a spot in the Milwaukee Brewers starting rotation

Earlier this week, New York announced that they were optioning Tong to Triple-A. The Mets’ current No. 3 prospect made his MLB debut last year, posting a 7.71 ERA over 18.2 innings pitched, and he hasn’t looked particularly sharp this spring. In two outings, he allowed runs each time -- three against the St. Louis Cardinals and one, on five hits in 2.2 innings, to Team Nicaragua.

Meanwhile, Sproat has passed the eye test this spring, showcasing an overpowering fastball along with a six-pitch mix. His raw arsenal highlights why the Brewers opted for him, and the trade could quickly look like an early win for Milwaukee if he impresses manager Pat Murphy enough to earn a starting rotation spot out of camp.

While it will obviously take time to determine the full impact of the trade, the early returns appear encouraging for the Brewers. Sproat has already begun to showcase the type of high-end arsenal that made him such an appealing target, while Tong, who remains with the Mets, still appears to be working through some developmental hurdles.

If Sproat continues to impress and carves out a role with Milwaukee sooner rather than later, the decision to prioritize him in the deal centered around Peralta could quickly look like another smart piece of roster building for the organization.