Why Padres are more likely to trade for Mets' Freddy Peralta than Tarik Skubal

Why Padres are more likely to trade for Mets' Freddy Peralta than Tarik Skubal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The San Diego Padres and A.J. Preller seemingly always are involved in the trade market, and the last few years, they've been some of the biggest buyers every year.

Last season, Preller swung a few trades, landing Mason Miller as the headliner despite already having an elite bullpen. But this season, with a huge need in the starting rotation, Preller and company are likely scouring the market for starting pitching.

There are plenty of fun options, including Tarik Skubal and Joe Ryan. However, as The Athletic's Jim Bowden notes, the Padres are more likely to trade for Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets for a very simple reason: trade cost.

Why Padres are more likely to trade for Freddy Peralta than Tarik Skubal

"Rather than swing for Skubal or Ryan, the Padres are more likely to take a chance they can get Peralta back on track, given that the prospect price to acquire him will be much lower than it was before the season," Bowden writes.

The Padres, after years of trades at the deadline and over the offseason, don't have the best prospect capital at their disposal.

While Ethan Salas has regained star prospect status, he's far too rich for Peralta, and might not be enough for Ryan or Skubal.

MORE: Blue Jays trade idea swaps two top-10 prospects to Mets for Freddy Peralta

Instead of such a massive deal, it makes more sense for the Padres to land Peralta, a good starter who was an All-Star last year, but is struggling this season with a 4.81 ERA, on a much smaller deal.

The Mets can't ask for too much for Peralta, so the Padres and Preller should be able to land the veteran right-hander at a much more reasonable cost than a deal for Skubal or Ryan.

While Peralta might not be the most fun addition the Padres could make to the rotation, it's the kind of high-upside move the Padres need to make to have a chance at not only making the postseason, but beating the Los Angeles Dodgers if and when they get there.

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