A recent report from Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic named the Braves one of the interested parties in the Freddy Peralta sweepstakes, as conversations are beginning to pick up surrounding the Brewers ace.
“The Freddy Peralta talks are about to resume in earnest. Both New York clubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox are among the teams showing interest. Some low-revenue clubs that can absorb Peralta’s $8 million salary are in play as well.”
Atlanta’s pursuit of a frontline starting pitcher appears to be the final box Alex Anthopoulos has to check in what has been a very satisfying offseason to this point. The Braves GM has made it clear he wants to land an arm the club would feel comfortable starting in a postseason game. Given how expensive that caliber of pitcher is in free agency — and with Atlanta already carrying a hefty payroll into 2026 — it makes sense for them to focus on trade targets who won’t be as costly financially next season.
Freddy Peralta fits that mold perfectly. He’s set to earn just $8 million in 2026, which is pennies for a pitcher who just posted 5.5 WAR with a 2.70 ERA in 2025. The complication, of course, is that he’s a rental.
So what would it take for the Braves to land the 29-year-old right-hander?
Rosenthal and Sammon report that Milwaukee is seeking an MLB-ready starting pitcher in return. The most obvious fit on the Braves’ roster is Hurston Waldrep, who broke out last season, going 6-1 with a 2.88 ERA over 56.1 innings.
If the Braves believe Waldrep’s late-season surge is sustainable, there’s little chance they would move him for one year of Peralta. However, back in November, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden proposed a potential framework that could bridge the gap, with Atlanta sending No. 2 prospect JR Ritchie and 2025 second-round pick Alex Lodise to the Brewers.
“If the Braves offered right-hander JR Ritchie and shortstop Alex Lodise, I believe a deal could get done,” Bowden writes.
That still might feel a bit pricey on the Braves’ end if they believe Ritchie can develop into a middle-of-the-rotation starter for years to come. He’s on the cusp of the majors — projected to make his MLB debut in 2026 — after posting a 2.64 ERA over 140 minor-league innings last season.
It’s an offer that feels more than fair for both sides. If I’m the Brewers, I’m not making the deal unless either Ritchie or Waldrep is included, which ultimately leaves the Braves with a tough decision. Do they believe both of them are going to be long-term staples in the rotation, or is now the time to cash in on one of their young arms for a proven playoff-caliber starter?
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