White Sox trade Robert to Mets for Luisangel Acuña, prospect
This browser does not support the video element.
Luis Robert Jr.’s name has been steadily featured in trade rumors in recent years. Late Tuesday evening, the White Sox officially parted ways with their All-Star center fielder.
The White Sox have traded Robert to the Mets, the club announced on Tuesday. In return, Chicago received second baseman Luisangel Acuña and right-hander Truman Pauley.
TRADE DETAILS
White Sox receive: 2B Luisangel Acuña, RHP Truman Pauley
Mets receive: CF Luis Robert Jr.
The White Sox picked up Robert’s $20 million option for 2026 in November, and his contract also includes a $20 million club option for ‘27. He was the final player remaining from Chicago’s previous rebuild iteration, and his name appeared on the rumor mill going back to at least the ‘24 Trade Deadline.
This browser does not support the video element.
With the White Sox rebuilding once more, the 28-year-old Robert represented a valuable trade chip to help improve the club’s future outlook. In acquiring Acuña, general manager Chris Getz added another promising up-and-comer to a roster budding with young talent, and one who could be a key contributor when the club’s next contention window opens.
Pauley, meanwhile, was New York’s 12th-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Harvard. The 22-year-old recorded a 2.08 ERA in 4 1/3 innings over three starts in Single-A this past summer.
Acuña, who will turn 24 on March 12, was a highly regarded player in the Mets’ farm system and was ranked as New York’s No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline in 2024. He made his MLB debut on Sept. 14 that season, when he hit .308 with three homers over 14 games.
Acuña (who’s the younger brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr.) went on to make New York’s Opening Day roster this past season, in which he largely served in a reserve role and was also optioned to Triple-A three times. He slashed .234/.293/.274 over 95 games in the Majors.
Acuña, however, has a career .282/.351/.400 slash line over parts of six seasons in the Minors. He figures to get a steady dose of playing time in Chicago to realize his promising potential.
Acuña could slot in at second base for the White Sox, a position that he has seen his most time at in the Majors (82 games) and extended time at in the Minors (131). That could push Chase Meidroth into a utility role, though the White Sox of course now have an opening in center field. Chicago could turn to Everson Pereira, whom they acquired from Tampa Bay on Nov. 18, or look to make an addition.
This browser does not support the video element.
Alternatively, Acuña has experience in center, including 37 starts in Triple-A over the past two seasons, and has made 17 appearances in center this offseason with the Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuela Winter League (and another 23 at shortstop) during regular-season play. Over 39 games, he slashed .282/.397/.542 with seven doubles, three triples and eight homers, which included a four-homer game on Jan. 10.
The White Sox initially signed Robert as an international free agent out of Cuba in May 2017. Over six seasons, he slashed .259/.313/.455, and had one of the best offensive seasons in at least recent franchise history in 2023.
Over 145 games that season, Robert hit 36 doubles and 38 homers with an .857 OPS over a career-high 145 games, and earned his first All-Star nod and won his first Silver Slugger Award.