How do national writers grade the Freddy Peralta trade?

Though the Wednesday, Jan. 21 trade that sent Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers to the New York Mets for Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams counts as a ground-shaking move for the Milwaukee Brewers, much of the national focus falls on the big-market Mets, who have acquired Luis Robert, Bo Bichette and Peralta in less than a week.

But how did national writers grade the trade from Milwaukee’s perspective?

The general consensus: Positive, though not necessarily a grand slam.

Here’s a sampling:

ESPN likes the Mets’ return in the Freddy Peralta deal slightly better

Baseball writer Dave Schoenfeld gave the Mets a B-plus and the Brewers a B for their ends of the deal.

“(Williams’) skill set will fit in perfectly with the Brewers and he could end up at either position, as a more offensive-minded option than Joey Ortiz at shortstop or as the center fielder, with Jackson Chourio sticking in left field,” Schoenfeld wrote. “Although with top prospect Jesús Made climbing through Milwaukee’s system, Williams’ long-term home could end up being in center field (assuming Made sticks at short). Either way, Williams’ versatility looms as a big plus and his on-base ability projects him as a potential leadoff hitter down the road.

“You can certainly justify a higher grade, especially if you believe Williams has star potential, but I’m downgrading just a bit here because losing Peralta hurts the Brewers’ chances in 2026. For a team that won the most games in the majors in 2025 and has never won a World Series, the priority should be winning a title, not just maintaining success. Trading Peralta makes the Brewers less likely to win a World Series this season.”

USA TODAY gives the Brewers a B-minus

James H. Williams also liked the deal better for New York, giving the Mets an A and the Brewers a B-minus.

“Brandon Sproat obviously doesn’t have the level of experience that was lost by sending Peralta away, but he’s a highly regarded pitching prospect (ranked as the Mets’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB.com),”

Two of the three writers at The Athletic gave the Brewers an A and like it better than Mets’ return

At The Athletic, three writers largely liked the deal for both sides, and two gave the Brewers the better end of it.

Stephen J. Nesbitt gave the Mets an A-minus and Brewers a B-plus. Cody Stavenhagen gave the Brewers an A and the Mets an A-minus, while Dennis Lin gave the Mets a B and the Brewers an A-minus.

“… They get an upside arm in Sproat, who happened to have a 112 Stuff+ grade in his first taste of the major leagues, and a player in Williams who very much fits their M.O. — speed, on-base ability and (lack of) size,” Stavenhagen wrote. “Williams was a first-round pick and a ranked prospect, so he’s far from one of Murphy’s diamonds in the rough. But this trade might ultimately be judged on what type of player Williams becomes. Is he a middling utility guy, or will he become another 3- or 4-WAR player disguised as one of the Brewers’ Average Joes?

“Knock Milwaukee all you want for the small-market style. The Brewers made similar trades with Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams and Josh Hader and just keep on churning. Neither Sproat nor Williams are sure things, but this return has a chance to be their best yet.”

CBS Sports gives the Brewers a B

R.J. Anderson gave the Mets an A for the deal and was slightly more lukewarm on the Brewers’ end.

“You can make the case this return is light and that they should be docked a grade. Not accessing the tip-top of the Mets system despite Peralta’s low salary ($8 million) and Myers’ inclusion is tough,” Anderson wrote. “Would Milwaukee have been better off keeping Peralta, maximizing their World Series chances in 2026, and then netting a draft pick at year’s end? Maybe so. The math would seem to support the approach the Brewers took, though, especially if you’re not sold on them again being the best team in the majors.

“(Williams is) going to walk, hit for power, steal bases, and play quality defense wherever the Brewers elect to plunk him down at. That’s a nifty player, no matter how much he defies expectation.”

Sports Illustrated puts both teams in the B range

Ryan Phillips gave the deal a B-plus for the Mets and a B for the Brewers.

“The Brewers got a solid return for Peralta, but they weren’t able to create the kind of bidding war that could have landed them a substantial haul,” he wrote.