NEW YORK -- The Mets made a major move to finalize their outfield late Tuesday night, acquiring center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the White Sox for infielder Luisangel Acuña and right-handed pitching prospect Truman Pauley, the clubs announced.
Talks regarding Robert have been ongoing since the Trade Deadline in 2024. There were even times, specifically Spring Training prior to the 2025 season, when Robert didn’t seem to believe he would be with the White Sox by Opening Day. But the center fielder stayed put until this offseason.
Now, he joins a Mets team that has recently struggled to identify a full-time center fielder. After cycling through players such as Harrison Bader, Tyrone Taylor, Jose Siri, Cedric Mullins and others, the Mets hope Robert can become an everyday option for them, at least for this season. He is due $20 million this year after the White Sox picked up his club option, and he has another $20 million club option with a $2 million buyout for 2027 before he can become a free agent.
TRADE DETAILS
Mets receive: CF Luis Robert Jr.
White Sox receive: INF Luisangel Acuña, RHP Truman Pauley
Robert is only a couple years removed from one of the most complete seasons in White Sox history. During that 2023 All-Star campaign, the five-tool talent slashed .264/.315/.542 with 38 home runs, 36 doubles, 20 stolen bases, 90 runs scored and 80 RBIs from the right side of the plate. While Robert has shown extended periods of excellence aside from this 145-game stretch, he has not really come close offensively over the 2024-25 seasons, with a .660 OPS and 28 homers over 210 games.
At the core, Robert remains a strong if not frequently spectacular defensive presence in center field. He also set a career-high with 33 stolen bases in ‘25, giving him 102 stolen bases and 102 home runs over 577 games. Robert will benefit from not being the focal point of his new lineup, but the real key for him will be staying on the field.
Health has been the biggest issue for the 28-year-old Cuban. Take the 2025 season, for example, when he was limited to 110 games after dealing with a pair of left hamstring strains. Robert’s second strain left him out of action from Aug. 26 through the end of the White Sox’ 60-win campaign.
In New York, the Mets will ask Robert to roam alongside Juan Soto in right. The Mets do not have a clear left fielder; the way things currently align, No. 2 prospect Carson Benge should compete for time with Taylor and perhaps Brett Baty, a natural infielder who no longer has a position after the Mets’ acquisition of Bo Bichette at third base.
With more than two weeks until the start of Spring Training, additional moves could come. But the Mets do want to leave room for young players such as Benge and Nick Morabito to contribute, and they have successfully completed one of president of baseball operations David Stearns’ stated goals of overhauling the roster. Gone are longtime stalwarts Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo, replaced by Robert, Bichette and Jorge Polanco. The cost to acquire Robert was Acuña, who profiled as a long-term bench piece at best for the Mets, and Pauley, who did not rank among their Top 30 prospects.
If the Mets have a key area they still must improve, it’s the rotation, which is largely unchanged from the unit that struggled in the second half last season. While the Mets will be counting on improved health from starters such as Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga, as well as continued development from prospects Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong, they could still use an external rotation addition.
Acuña, a former top prospect with the Mets who was acquired by New York from the Rangers at the 2023 Trade Deadline for Max Scherzer, has batted .248/.299/.341 with three homers and 16 steals in 109 career games, including 95 last season. He did however recently show plenty of pop when he went deep four times in a winter league game in Venezuela.
The younger brother of Braves superstar Ronald, the 23-year-old Luisangel has made big league starts at second base (41), shortstop (13) and third base (1), while also appearing in center field twice. His versatility should give him plenty more opportunity for playing time than he had with the Mets, perhaps even taking over in center for Roberts if he doesn't assume a starting role in the infield.
Pauley, 22, was a 12th-round pick last year out of Harvard. He allowed one run with three strikeouts and four walks over 4 1/3 innings in his pro debut with Single-A St. Lucie.