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The New York Mets made a significant move to bolster their pitching rotation, but the acquisition didn’t come without its costs.
In a bold trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Mets secured right-handed starter Freddy Peralta and 27-year-old reliever Tobias Myers. To finalize this deal, the Mets parted ways with top prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams, a decision that underscores the team’s urgent need for an ace.
Both Sproat and Williams were highly regarded in the baseball community, ranking among Baseball America’s top 100 prospects, a list freshly updated on Wednesday. Their departure is a testament to the high stakes involved in the Mets’ pursuit of championship-caliber talent.
Brandon Sproat, a 25-year-old pitcher who had earned the 81st spot on Baseball America’s list, was a key figure among the Mets’ promising young arms. He joined Nolan McLean (ranked No. 8) and Jonah Tong (No. 44) in a mid-season call-up last year, as the Mets aimed to invigorate their lineup for a playoff push.
In his brief MLB stint, Sproat posted a 4.79 ERA, striking out 17 batters over 20 â…” innings in four starts. Prior to that, he maintained a 4.24 ERA across 26 Triple-A appearances, showcasing his potential to develop into a reliable major league pitcher.
But the Mets did not have to give up McLean, a third-round pick in 2023 who is expected to have a spot high in the rotation this season.
McLean made eight big-league starts last season, going 5-1 while posting an impressive 2.06 ERA. He also recorded 57 strikeouts in 48 innings, while displaying a fastball in the upper 90s to go along with a diverse pitching arsenal.
The Mets also moved on from Williams, a 22-year-old first-round pick in 2022 who is a middle infielder and center field prospect.
He hit .261 with an .828 OPS, 17 homers, 52 RBIs and 34 steals in 130 games across Double-A and Triple-A in 2025 and was working toward getting a call to the big club.
But when the Mets acquired Luis Robert Jr., an elite defender in center field, in a trade with the White Sox on Tuesday night, that made Williams more expendable.
Carson Benge at No. 19 and outfielder/second baseman A.J. Ewing at No. 83 are the other two Mets prospects in the Top 100.