Report: Mets, Peralta unlikely to reach extension before Opening Day

A long-term agreement between the New York Mets and Freddy Peralta doesn't appear imminent.

Although talks between the sides have occurred, the chances of the Mets locking up their new ace before Opening Day are highly unlikely, sources told Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Contract length is reportedly one of the main sticking points, with significant differences between the parties. Peralta, an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season, told Heyman earlier in March that he's seeking a deal of "seven or eight years."

However, that apparently isn't sitting well with the Mets, who typically aren't comfortable giving pitchers such lengthy pacts. New York would prefer to get Peralta's signature on a four- or five-year deal, according to Heyman.

Neither side has set a deadline for negotiations, so they could continue into the season. Peralta also indicated that he'd leave all contract discussions to his agents.

Peralta is in the final season of a five-year, $15.5-million deal he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers in February 2020. Milwaukee exercised an $8-million club option on the right-hander in November, two months before trading him to the Mets for top-100 prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns is familiar with Peralta, having signed him to his current contract while running the Brewers.

After being acquired by New York, the 29-year-old said he'd be open to discussing an extension once he was fully settled in with his new team.

Peralta will take the mound for the Mets on Opening Day following a career-best 2025 season, during which he won an NL-best 17 games while finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting.