JUST IN: MLB Insider Confirms Huge Trade Bombshell Between Phillies and Brewers

Jon Conahan of Athlon Sports recently proposed a surprising trade scenario that would send Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta to the Philadelphia Phillies as a potential replacement for Taijuan Walker. While intriguing, the idea raises several concerns.

Conahan argued that, despite already boasting one of the strongest pitching duos in baseball with Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, the Phillies could benefit from adding another reliable arm to their rotation. “Peralta would fit that role perfectly and has consistently proven his dependability,” he wrote. “In 2024, he posted a 3.68 ERA and racked up 200 strikeouts over 173 2/3 innings. Placing him as a fourth starter in Philly’s rotation could make this team incredibly dangerous come playoff time.”

However, despite Peralta being an obvious upgrade, the Phillies may not need to pursue such a move. While Walker may not be the ideal fifth starter, he’s unlikely to derail the team’s success. Additionally, the Phillies are set to welcome Ranger Suárez back from injury soon, further strengthening their rotation.

On top of that, top pitching prospect Andrew Painter is on the verge of making his mark in the majors. After a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery, he’s scheduled to return to the mound in the minors this Sunday—his first appearance in over a year.

Although Peralta would be a valuable addition for any team, the Phillies already have solid depth in their starting rotation. Given the likely high price tag in a potential trade, acquiring Peralta simply doesn’t make sense for Philadelphia at this time.