MLB Trade Rumors details what Brewers should expect from possible Freddy Peralta trade

As of yesterday morning, the first day after the completion of the World Series, MLB teams can officially make trades once again, following a period of inaction started by the July 31 trade deadline. In general, several smaller trades will occur throughout the first week of the offseason involving players with team or club options which have to be exercised prior to the fifth day after the World Series. The Brewers made such a move back in 2023 when they traded Mark Canha to the Detroit Tigers instead of picking up his $11.5 million club option.

Blockbuster deals, like the one that would involve the Brewers moving on from their ace, Freddy Peralta, generally don't occur until later in the offseason. Take, for example, the Brewers' trade of Corbin Burnes prior to the 2024 season, which wasn't executed until February 1, just a few weeks before spring training began. As a result, the Brewers will pick up Peralta's $8 million club option before making any decisions regarding his trade status this offseason.

That said, because a trade could theoretically occur at any moment, it's fair to wonder what the return might look like for Peralta, who, with his $8 million salary for the 2026 season, just might be the best value on the trade market this winter. One popular MLB site gives Brewers fans a clear idea of what a return for their ace should look like.

MLB Trade Rumors predicts a return similar to the one Corbin Burnes netted in a hypothetical Freddy Peralta blockbuster

Steve Adams, a long-time reporter for the popular site MLBTradeRumors.com, detailed his top 40 trade candidates for the 2025-26 offseason on Sunday morning, and coming in at No. 8 on his list was Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. Ranking behind starting pitchers Mackenzie Gore, Joe Ryan, Mitch Keller, Sonny Gray, and Pablo Lopez, Adams doesn't think a Peralta trade is as much of a sure thing as some other national reporters, but he did offer a helpful comparison for Brewers fans to keep in mind when thinking about what a potential return could look like.

Adams notes that Peralta, "doesn’t have a former Cy Young Award under his belt, but [he] will earn about half what Burnes earned in his final year of control. That trade package — Hall, Joey Ortiz, and a Competitive Balance draft pick — might not be far off what it takes to pry Peralta from Milwaukee’s grasp." He goes on to note that both Ortiz and Hall were MLB-ready current or former Top 100 prospects, meaning the Brewers could presumably ask for two top-ranked prospects in return for Peralta as well.

When it comes to the readiness level of the prospects that the Brewers ask for, the front office faces an interesting decision. On one hand, the team has a stacked farm system and was just one step away from a World Series appearance in 2025, suggesting that they should prioritize players who are MLB-ready. However, they also have very few holes on their current roster, with much of their 2025 roster expected to return next season, which could lead the Brewers towards prioritizing the best prospects in any return regardless of how close they are to MLB.

Therefore, while it's no certainty that Milwaukee deals Peralta this winter, the return should rival the value that the Brewers got back from the Baltimore Orioles back in exchange for Corbin Burnes. Whether those players would have an impact on the 2026 squad or not remains to be seen.