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Mets lefthanded pitcher David Peterson.

The New York Mets are off to a horrid start to the 2026 season, and president of baseball operations, David Stearns, has already made it clear that Carlos Mendoza will remain the Mets manager.

A report surfaced earlier this week that the Mets were open to trade conversations about certain pitchers, but names like Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, and Nolan McLean are reportedly safe for now. That brings up major questions about the likes of David Peterson and Kodai Senga. Both have struggled mightily this season, and wholesale changes need to be made in Queens. Would a trade for Houston Astros‘ $60 million slugger Christian Walker help turn things around in New York?

GettyChristian Walker #8 of the Houston Astros hits a two-run RBI double in the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Daikin Park on April 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Maria Lysaker/Getty Images)

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Mets Predicted to Land Christian Walker in Trade that Offloads David Peterson

FanSided’s Zachary Rotman proposes a trade that could help the Mets salvage their offense, and it includes New York trading away David Peterson to the Astros for star slugger Christian Walker:

“Finding a meaningful trade in May is hard. Finding a meaningful trade when the Mets are unwilling to trade starting pitchers of value is even harder. This trade, though, fixes problems for both the Mets and the Astros.”

“This deal sees the Mets acquire Christian Walker, a power-hitting first baseman off to a red-hot start in exchange for David Peterson, a starting pitcher Houston could definitely use as well as pitching prospect Jonathan Pintaro,”

Christian Walker is on the second year of a 3-year, $60 million deal, but with the Astros in financial trouble, offloading that contract during a year of little success might be smart. He’s hitting .294 with seven home runs and 24 RBI this season. After a down season in 2025 for Walker, he’s showing the MLB world that he can still hit for power.

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When Are the Mets Going to Trade David Peterson?

GettyPitcher David Peterson #23 of the New York Mets reacts after giving up a solo home run to Tristan Gray #4 of the Minnesota Twins during the sixth inning at Citi Field on April 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Heather Khalifa/Getty Images)

After having an All-Star level season in 2025, David Peterson has been awful for the Mets this season.

Mets reporter Jorge Castillo wrote (on April 30): 

“A night after the Mets scored seven runs in the fourth inning in an 8-0 win, the Nationals scored seven runs in the fourth to take a 9-1 lead. David Peterson’s final line: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 5 K. He threw 80 pitches, 48 for strikes. His ERA is 6.53.”

So, at this point, the Mets can’t keep running David Peterson out every fifth day and expect to win that game. It’s the tough reality sometimes, but Peterson isn’t helping the Mets win in any way.

And this is a great trade proposal from FanSided’s Rotman, but it’s one Houston may shoot down because Peterson’s trade value is at an all-time low.

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