Many fans of the New York Mets would've already been asleep by the time the news came from ESPN's Jeff Passan came across their phones after 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Luis Robert Jr. Has been traded from the Chicago White Sox to the New York Mets. The Mets finally have their standout centerfielder they've been waiting for.
The full trade, via Passan:
- Mets get: OF Luis Robert Jr.
- White Sox get: IF Luisangel Acuña and RHP Truman Pauley
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Some Mets fans won't love giving up Acuña, the baby brother of Ronald, who is having a huge winter ball season with burgeoning power.
But the Mets needed to do this deal. They needed a star centerfielder.
They couldn't solve centerfield at all in 2025, and when they couldn't land Robert by the trade deadline, they got Cedric Mullins from the Orioles instead. That didn't work out, and after missing the playoffs entirely, the Mets needed to make it happen now.
Robert is a 28-year old from Cuba who has made an All-Star Team and won a Gold Glove, although the last few seasons have featured quite a bit of inconsistency.
In 2025, he hit.223 with 14 homers and 33 stolen bases. When he is at his best, he's still an incredible player.
The Mets get him at a relatively affordable $20 million salary for 2026. They also have club control for 2027 if they want it, as Robert's contract features a club option for 2027 at that same $20 million price tag.
Not bad news for Mets fans everywhere to wake up to on this Wednesday.
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