MLB insider pours fuel on the fire with poorly timed Freddy Peralta rumor

Less than 24 hours have passed since the Milwaukee Brewers were eliminated from the MLB playoffs after advancing farther than they have in each of their previous five postseason appearances. Despite the disappointing end result, it was a season that Brewers fans won't soon forget. One that not only saw the team set a franchise record for wins in the regular season, but also captivated so many around the baseball world who tuned in to watch Milwaukee's refreshing brand of baseball.

Even still, despite the 14-game win streak, the breakout performances, and the thrilling NLDS victory over their arch rivals, the Chicago Cubs, it will take some time for fans of the Brew Crew to process the team's disheartening exit from the playoffs. A series sweep to the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers that has many talking about the fairness of the current spending restrictions, or lack thereof, in major league baseball, is not something that fans can simply sweep under the rug and forget about the following day. Having your season cut short by the most expensive team ever assembled, in a series that included the best performance by a player in a single postseason game (or any game for that matter), as well as historic performances from the other three aces on their team, is not easy to stomach.

The Brewers, and their fans for that matter, have earned time to reflect on what was one of the most successful seasons in franchise history, rather than immediately be bombarded by rumors of their best players being traded away, something that they've suffered through countless times, but more frequently in the last few offseasons.

However, the world of baseball, and more specifically the business behind the game, is a cruel and unrelenting one. The second a team's season ends, rumors of who the team could trade away in the offseason begin to surface, even as the wound of that team's playoff exit or disappointing regular season finish is still fresh. As is the case with the Milwaukee Brewers, whose ace, Freddy Peralta, is already rumored to be one of the most popular names on the trade market this offseason.

MLB insider Andy McCullough of The Athletic reports Brewers will listen to trade offers for Freddy Peralta this offseason

In an article published by The Athletic this morning, less than seven hours after the Brewers were eliminated in the NLCS, MLB insider Andy McCullough wrote that, "the Brewers are expected to at least field offers for starting pitcher Freddy Peralta, according to people familiar with the situation who requested anonymity in order to speak freely."

While the news itself shouldn't really come as any surprise to Brewers fans -- President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold has forever been transparent about the teams' willingness to listen to trade offers for any of their players -- it's the timing of the news that hurts the most. Of course Milwaukee will listen to offers for Peralta this offseason; to not entertain them whatsoever would mean Arnold and company are not doing their jobs. However, a more accurate phrasing of the situation, or at least a more complete one, would note that Peralta is one of, if not the best player who could be traded this offseason, and with his $8 million salary, the Brewers will certainly field trade offers, but will need to be blown away in order to agree to one.

This news could have been published at any point this offseason, or any point during the season for that matter. Peralta was rumored to be a trade candidate last offseason too, and even during the season, with many in the national media praying that he get dealt to a big-market team at the mid-season trade deadline. The Brewers almost certainly received a formal trade offer for Peralta over the last 12 months, and it would be more noteworthy to learn that Arnold didn't listen to said offer. This news was published intentionally at a time when Brewers fans are already in the dumps about their team’s financial position, pouring flames onto a fire that won't soon be extinguished.

Whether Peralta is dealt this offseason or not remains to be seen; there are arguments on both sides, which will be covered extensively throughout the offseason. However, allowing painful headlines such as this to overshadow what Milwaukee accomplished this season is unfair to both the Brewers and their fans, especially just hours after the team suffered a disheartening NLCS loss to the Dodgers.