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The New York Mets have traded for Chicago White Sox star Luis Robert Jr., filling a key need in the outfield and improving their defense as a whole.
New York has been connected to Yankees free agent Cody Bellinger, who shares a similar profile to Robert but offers much steadier production.
Bellinger's talks with the Yankees had stalled over the last week, fueling rumors that the Mets could become players for him, though the Mets have instead opted to trade for an alternative who will cost less overall.
The Mets made it no mystery that they wanted to improve their fielding and address the outfield after moving on from Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil earlier in the winter.
According to Jeff Passon of ESPN, the Mets are sending infielder Luisangel Acuna and right-hander Truman Pauley to Chicago for Robert, two of the promising young players.
Robert has long been floated as a trade candidate, considering his big-money deal and underwhelming performances despite still being in his physical prime.
As a part of the trade, the Mets are absorbing the remaining part of Robert's deal, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
"Mets taking on Robert’s entire $20M salary plus $2M buyout or $20M option for 2027," Rosenthal wrote on X.
Robert can play in the corner outfield spots, but he specializes in center field, the position of need for the Mets. He can help cover the field with a good range and strong arm.
In a new competitive environment, the Mets will hope to get a more focused and productive Robert who can deliver at the plate and in the outfield consistently, potentially returning to his budding star status.
In 2023, Robert was a superstar. He had a 5.3 bWAR, hitting 38 home runs and 80 RBIs while slashing .264/.315/.542. It was a stellar campaign, and he posted a great 130 OPS+.
Since that season, he has put up an 86 OPS+ and 85 OPS+, two below-average offensive seasons with only 14 home runs to boot.
Despite the offensive woes, he has posted a 1.4 WAR in the last two seasons, well above replacement level. With a fresh start and a spot lower in the lineup, Robert could tap into his previous potential and get back on track, which would make this deal a robbery for the Mets.
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