The Call Up | An MLB Prospect Podcast · Just Baseball Media

472 | Breaking Down the Freddy Peralta and MacKenzie Gore Trade Returns

·42 min·3 clips

Why the Brewers' trade return for Freddy Peralta surpasses their earlier Corbin Burnes deal.

This episode analyzes the two major trades sending Freddy Peralta to the Mets and MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers. Hosts Aram Leighton and Eric Cross of Just Baseball break down the prospect returns for the Brewers and Nationals. They are prospect analysts who evaluate these deals from a player development and team-building perspective. The Brewers received pitchers Brandon Sproat and Tobias Myers, along with infielder/outfielder Jett Williams from the Mets for Freddy Peralta. The Nationals acquired a five-player package from Texas for MacKenzie Gore, headlined by recent first-round pick Gavin Fien and pitcher Alejandro Rosario. The hosts reference that the Mets initially balked at including Sproat and Williams, but the inclusion of Myers made the deal palatable. They note Sproat possesses a six-pitch arsenal with a 97 mph fastball and a nasty sweeper. A key insight is that the Brewers' deep pitching staff, including Robert Gasser, might allow them to start Sproat in AAA to optimize his pitch shapes. They argue the Brewers' return for Peralta is better than their earlier return for Corbin Burnes, valuing Sproat higher than reliever D.L. Hall. The hosts see Jett Williams as a flexible piece who could fill multiple future holes for Milwaukee at shortstop, second base, or in the outfield. They express high excitement for Alejandro Rosario, who had a 2.24 ERA and a 37.4% strikeout rate in the minors in 2024 after a 7.11 ERA in his final college season. Devin Fitzgerald is highlighted as an underrated switch-hitter with elite underlying contact data and a 105.5 mph EV90. The hosts note Abimelec Ortiz could be the Nationals' Opening Day first baseman after posting a .956 OPS in his final 70 games of 2024. The analysis is conversational and educational, blending specific scouting reports with front-office strategy discussion. It is delivered in an enthusiastic, insider tone focused on future roster construction. This episode is ideal for fantasy baseball players, prospect enthusiasts, and fans of the Brewers, Mets, Nationals, or Rangers seeking deep dives on new acquisitions. Listeners preferring game recaps or big-league star interviews might find it too niche.

As heard by us

Two blockbuster deals, a brisk prospect focus, and useful trade-return context.

The episode keeps its focus on two blockbuster deals, with Arm Layton and Elijah Evans working through the Freddy Peralta and Mackenzie Gore packages while the market is still moving.

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Why you'd press play

Want the prospect side of two blockbuster trade hauls, fast?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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