Before last Friday, Philadelphia Phillies fans weren't exactly blown away by the front office's offseason. It was acceptable up to that point, but not amazing. Nor was it considered an abject failure.
But then the New York Mets and Bo Bichette happened. Then Luis Robert Jr. happened.
Now, most recently, Freddy Peralta happened after the Mets swung another trade for the Milwaukee Brewers All-Star starter on Wednesday night. The 29-year-old right-hander is heading to New York and the NL East with swingman Tobias Myers in the deal that saw the Mets ship out their No. 3 MLB Pipeline prospect Jett Williams and No. 5 prospect Brandon Sproat.
Thanks to the Mets' wild week of activity, the Phillies and their fans are feeling the sting of watching a division rival, and a hated one at that, grab all the headlines and reload their roster for 2026.
In Peralta, the Mets are getting a two-time All-Star heading into a contract year who posted a 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 176 2/3 innings over 33 starts last season. He immediately becomes the ace of a deep Mets' rotation that will also feature some combination of stud rookie Nolan McLean and veterans David Peterson, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, and Kodai Senga.
Within the last week, the New York Mets have added the frontline starter they needed, the big bat they needed and the center fielder they needed.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 22, 2026
Offseasons are long. A slow November and December does not preclude a monster January. And that's exactly what the Mets unleashed.
Bo Bichette was only the beginning of a big week for the Mets, and a tough one for the Phillies
As you probably already know, the Phillies had a deal in principle with Bichette but the Mets swooped in with a bundle of cash and opt-outs that convinced the star free agent to turn heel and head to Citi Field. Bichette made his Citi Field introduction on Wednesday, with some choice comments, if you're interested in raising your blood pressure some more.
Following that Friday afternoon Bichette shocker, all was quiet from New York. The Phillies licked their wounds, re-signed veteran catcher J.T. Realmuto to little fanfare, and told us that they're content with where they are just weeks before spring training.
Then the Mets struck again. On Tuesday night, they made a major move to solidify their outfield by trading for beleaguered center fielder Luis Robert Jr. The 28-year-old has a mouthwatering skill set. But between battling injuries and playing for the Chicago White Sox, he has never been able to play to his high-ceiling potential outside his 38-homer, 20-steal 2023 season.
After years of rumored trade connections to the Phillies, if Robert stays healthy and figures it out in his new environment, he will be a serious problem for Philadelphia and the rest of the NL East.
The Mets in general figure to be a huge problem in the NL East this year, especially after their last week of moving and shaking. With Peralta, Bichette, and Robert now bolstering a roster that already features middle infielders Francisco Lindor and Marcus Semien, young catcher Francisco Alvarez, and new closer Devin Williams, they are a threat to take serioulsy.
Phillies fans are just begging for the Mets to stop.