On Jan. 20, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported, citing sources, that the New York Mets agreed to a trade to bring in center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox.
The report also noted that the White Sox will receive infielder Luisangel Acuna and right-handed pitcher Truman Pauley as part of the deal. Moreover, the trade for Robert allows New York to focus its funds on bolstering its pitching as spring training approaches.
New York are also betting that their coaching staff can help the outfielder rediscover his 2023 form, in which Robert hit .264 with 144 hits, 38 home runs, 80 RBIs, and 90 runs scored in 145 games in 2023 and won his first Silver Slugger award, per StatMuse.
On Jan. 21, the Mets’ president of baseball operations, David Stearns, spoke about the deal that sent Robert to Queens.
“Luis has big time upside, and we’ve seen it at previous points in his career,” Stearns told reporters (h/t SNY). “All of those skills and tools that allowed him to perform at such a high level a couple of years ago are still there. So we’re excited to bring him into our environment, bring him into our team, give him all the support and help we can, and then watch him go.”
Steve Phillips Believes Mets Improved Defensive Play
Moreover, former MLB general manager Steve Phillips offered his take on the trade, noting he likes the move from a defensive perspective.
“He’s a really good defender,” Phillips said in a Jan. 21 video for MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM. “The numbers still indicate that. He’s a great base stealer. But his offensive production the last couple of years have been that of an extra outfielder. The White Sox had to make a decision about picking up his option this year for $20 million. I thought that the right move for them would have been to not pick it up.”
Additionally, the Mets hope that a change of scenery could be what jump-starts Robert into producing like his 2023 version.
“It can only be described as a catch‑lightning‑in‑a‑bottle move, and it is about run prevention more than run production,” Phillips added. “But how much run production can you give up to add run prevention and still think you can score enough? Because they’ve taken less offense at just about every position where they’ve made move so far.”
Mets Need to Spend on Pitching Next
On the Jan. 20 edition of SNY’s “SportsNite,“ Sal Licata believes that the addition of Robert allows the Mets to put any money they were planning to use on Bellinger toward their starting rotation, which they eventually did, concerning that the free-agent hitter re-signed with the New York Yankees.
“I love it for multiple reasons,“ Licata said. “No. 1: The Mets finally have a legitimate, at least defensive, centerfielder, a proven big leaguer. He strikes out a ton. Offensive numbers are not what you want. A few years ago, he had 38 homers. That’s not the norm. Forget about that.
“But at least they have a major leaguer with potential in center field, takes them, I would think, out of the mix for Bellinger. They’re not going to spend that money there, which makes me think they’re going to spend the money in the starting rotation, which I think they need more. I love this move.”
Mets’ David Stearns Drops True Feelings on Luis Robert Jr. Trade