What Matt Arnold said about Brewers’ decision to trade Freddy Peralta

• The Milwaukee Brewers traded pitcher Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers to the New York Mets.
• Brewers president Matt Arnold cited Peralta’s impending free agency as a key reason for the trade.
• Arnold said both Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams, acquired in the deal, will compete for spots on the opening day roster.

Following the trade that sent Freddy Peralta along with Tobias Myers to the New York Mets for prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams, Milwaukee Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold joined reporters on a call to discuss the blockbuster.

Here is everything Arnold said.

The reasoning behind the Brewers trading Freddy Peralta

Question: We’re familiar with seeing this sort of move. Each time you traded Devin (Williams) or Corbin (Burnes) or Freddy there continues to be people wondering why you’re doing this, coming off a 97-win season and trading your No. 1 starter the year before. What would you say is your reasoning or justification for making this deal?

Arnold: In this situation there are a couple factors. We feel like we have a really good core of starters to deal from. The second part of that is bringing back someone like Brandon Woodruff as a veteran here who’s an established leader in our clubhouse. We felt like that was something that along with the other guys in that mix continues to give us a very strong rotation. Adding someone like Brandon Sproat to that mix is very exciting.

The reality is we have one year left with Freddy Peralta. He’s a free agent at the end of the season. That’s always going to be a challenge for us. We’ve had to make these tough decisions. To add two players that we like and have them as a part of this group this season and well beyond that is something that we felt is very good for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Freddy was a huge part of our rotation here for a number of years. I think just again, the reality is that he had one year left here and was potentially a free agent. I think to supplement the rotation – not just with somebody like Brandon Sproat but also the other guys in the mix, including Brandon Woodruff – we still feel like we’re going to have a very strong rotation in 2026.

Is Brandon Woodruff still on track for a full-go in spring?

Arnold: Still on pace to be ready and it sound like everything’s progressing very well on Brandon’s behalf.

What is the human side of trading Peralta, and how was that conversation with him tonight?

Arnold: He meant a ton. Honestly it was emotional for both of us. We both exchanged a lot of heartfelt thoughts. It’s stuff you wish you say more often to people you care about. I think that’s just a good reminder to all of us. We’ve both cared about each other for a long time. Traded for him at 19 years old. I’ve seen him grow up. I care so much about him and who he is and about his family. I reminded him that he’s always going to be a part of our Brewers family.

Jett, it seems he can play a number of positions. Where do you expect to start him out at and is he a guy who can be on the major-league club on opening day?

Arnold: Both these guys are going to compete for spots on our team for opening day. In Jett’s case I think he’s a guy that’s a gamer that’s played everywhere. That’s great. That fits our team. It fits [Pat Murphy}’s style of player. He’s a gamer. He’s not that big but he plays with a ton of heart and he’s got incredible tools. He’s one of the fastest players in the minor leagues. I think that his versatility is something that’s going to fit very, very well for this team.

More: What to know about Brewers trade acquisitions Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat

What do you like about Sproat’s profile?

Arnold: He’s going to compete for a spot in our rotation. This guy has incredible stuff. Very high-octane. Really good movement on his four-seamer and two-seamer, really good secondary weapons and a really good changeup. To bring in a guy with this kind of arm and add him to our rotation for now and the future is something that’s really, really exciting.

On including Tobias Myers in the deal

Could you touch on the inclusion of Myers and, in the context of the last year, and him not filling the role that was anticipated from him going in?

Arnold: Tobias, from where he started in his career, he’s overcome a lot. Another emotional call that we had together. I’m really proud of what he was able to accomplish. Again, with the number and type of starters we had and the numbers we had and arms we have, we felt like adding him was something that made some sense to access the two players we were able to acquire.

On trading with the Mets’ David Stearns, Matt Arnold’s Brewers predecessor

What’s it like negotiating with David (Stearns) when the two of you worked together to bring Freddy Peralta to Milwaukee in 2015?

Arnold: He knows the players well. He and I have worked very well together for many years. Obviously care about him a lot. Today’s his anniversary and I was at his wedding. We go back a long way. I think I might have ruined his anniversary dinner. He’s a dear friend and hopefully these are the types of trades that work out for both sides.

Was there a deadline for a deal?

Did you set any deadlines on a Peralta trade, where if you didn’t reach a deal by a certain date he would have stayed with you?

Arnold: We didn’t have any deadlines. We’ve had these conversations for a while and stayed in touch with Freddy along the way and make sure we’re transparent on these types of things. We had a number of different conversations and felt like this was the right opportunity to add these players we’ve frankly targeted for a while. Just felt like it was the right time to make the decision.