Dodgers Analysis: Why Freddy Peralta Is the Perfect Trade Fit for the Dodgers’ Rotation

LOS ANGELES, CA—Despite the Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly signing star outfielder Kyle Tucker to a 4-year, $240 million contract last week, it was soon confirmed that they were still competing for Milwaukee Brewers ace right-hander Freddy Peralta, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

To say the Dodgers need Peralta would be a bit of a stretch for every fanbase across the sport, as Los Angeles already has an embarrassment of riches on its roster, including on the pitching staff.

In October, that starting rotation was on full display, as Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani led the team to back-to-back World Series titles with their dominance over opposing lineups.

Entering the 2026 season, the Dodgers are also expected to provide young Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki with another opportunity to join the rotation, following a challenging first half last season.

Right-hander Emmet Sheehan, who filled in various roles for the Dodgers’ pitching staff last season, remains a strong candidate for the rotation or bullpen. He will be joined by former minor league teammates River Ryan and Gavin Stone, who are also expected to rejoin the team this summer.

Then there are minor league depth options like Justin Wrobleski, who proved to be a valuable member of the Dodgers’ postseason bullpen, along with right-handers Landon Knack and Bobby Miller, who have eaten innings when needed in the past.

A trade for Peralta would only increase that surplus, even if one or two players moved back to Milwaukee. However, a closer look reveals why Andrew Friedman and his team are interested in strengthening their rotation.

To put it mildly, the Dodgers’ rotation as constructed is a ticking time bomb.

Just last season alone, the team saw Snell, Glasnow, Ohtani, Sheehan, and countless others hit the injured list for extended periods of time, returning just in time for October.

In 2024, that wasn’t the case, as the once-deep starting rotation on paper thinned down to just Jack Flaherty, acquired via trade, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and a bullpen.

Still, as we saw, the team has not wanted what happened in 2024 to happen again once October rolls around, which is why they were aggressive in signing Snell and maintaining their pitching depth.

Some of that depth can now be used in trades of their own, especially for Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta, who logged a career-best 2.70 ERA across 33 starts for the National League-leading Brewers in 2025.

Even if all six projected starters, including Sheehan, make it through camp healthy, the Dodgers know injuries are unavoidable. Pitching injuries are rising across baseball, especially in March and April. Adding Peralta — a durable arm with 30-plus starts in three consecutive seasons — would give L.A. reliable protection as they manage their staff cautiously this spring.

The prospect cost could be minimal for the Dodgers, who enter the 2026 offseason with the No. 1-ranked farm system, according to MLB Pipeline. They could entice the Brewers with any of their young controllable pitchers and possibly even Ryan Ward, who seems to be without a spot on the roster despite being added to the 40-man in November.

Peralta, 29, is set to become a free agent at the end of next season and is only due $8 million, making him very affordable for even the cheapest of teams.

For a team like the Dodgers, which has already kicked the tires on left-hander Tarik Skubal, who is likely to earn north of $20 million in arbitration this month, could be a more cost-effective route for an already bloated Los Angeles payroll.

Now, all of this hinges on the Brewers actually deciding to trade Peralta — which is far from guaranteed. Milwaukee holds all the leverage here. They don’t have to move their best pitcher, especially now that the Cubs are trying their hardest to cosplay as a real threat after signing Alex Bregman. But the Brewers love nothing more than finding cheap, controllable talent like they’re bargain-hunting at a baseball thrift store, and the Dodgers have plenty to offer. As long as Milwaukee keeps the phone on, L.A. will happily keep calling.

It wouldn’t be far-fetched to think that the Brew Crew could do something similar, as just two years ago they traded 2021 Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles for infielder Joey Ortiz, left-hander DL Hall, and a Competitive Balance Round A pick.

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