The New York Mets finally have their center fielder after trading for Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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The Mets finally filled the gaping hole in center field. Jeff Passan of ESPN reported yesterday that the Chicago White Sox have agreed to trade the oft-injured, potential superstar Luis Robert Jr. to New York in return for (now) unnecessary infielder Luisangel Acuña and right-handed pitching prospect Truman Pauley.
Robert has been involved in trade rumors going back at least a few years. Scuttle really picked up during the 2025 off-season, then again at the 2025 trade deadline, and then… nothing. Originally signed out of Cuba in 2017 for a whopping $26 million bonus, the ChiSox thought they had a star on their hands, a player they could build the franchise around. The hype was so great that after the 2019 season, the club signed Robert to a six-year, $50 million extension prior to his MLB debut. At the time, it was the largest contract ever awarded to a player with zero MLB service time.
His rookie season was the Covid-shortened campaign, but he still managed to slug eleven home runs and win a Gold Glove. His sophomore season saw him slash .338/.378/.567, with 13 homers, but that was in just 296 plate appearances, as a torn flexor tendon in his right hip caused him to miss three months. This was the beginning of a theme for the slugger.
In 2022 he played in only 98 games, as various ailments kept him out of the lineup. When he was able to play, he slashed .284/.319/.426, with 12 home runs. In 2023 he stayed on the field all season and showed the world what he is capable of, playing in 145 games, hitting 38 homers with 296 total bases, which garnered him 5.3 bWAR. This led to his first All-Star appearance, a Silver Slugger Award, and twelfth place in MVP voting.
It was not to last. In 2024 and 2025, he has played a total of 210 games, with an OPS+ of 86 and 85. Last year he did steal a career-high 33 bases, so the legs still seem to work.
The Mets will be praying for good health and a return to Robert’s 2023 form. For the first time since the recently-traded Brandon Nimmo roamed center field in 2023, the team will have a legitimate center fielder. Prior to the trade, the White Sox exercised their $20 million team option for 2026, which was part of the 2019 deal. Now the Mets will have another $20 million team option after this season, with a $2 million buyout if they choose to let him go.
However, as previously reported, due to New York’s competitive balance tax situation, they are essentially paying 110 cents on the dollar, making the commitment to Robert this season closer to $46 million. With the potential buyout, they could be paying Bo Bichette and Robert nearly a combined $140 million to hang out for one season.
And moving Acuña and Pauley barely provides any salary relief. The infielder is due to make $820,000 this season, and Pauley ended last year in A-ball, meaning he will be on a minor league contract this year.
The Mets needed to do something to shore up their outfield, appease their fanbase, and give themselves a chance to compete in the National League East. This move ostensibly does all of the above. Unfortunately for Mets fans, Robert doesn’t pitch, and the team still needs considerable help in that department, too. Maybe president of baseball operations David Stearns, with Steve Cohen’s checkbook, still has a deal or two up his sleeve.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/danfreedman/2026/01/21/mets-trade-for-luis-robert-jr-to-fill-their-hole-in-center-field/
