Luis Robert Jr. is headed to New York.
The Mets struck a deal to acquire the center fielder on Tuesday, the team announced, finally pulling off a move they were reportedly interested in making at the trade deadline months ago. In exchange, the Chicago White Sox will receive infielder Luisangel Acuña and right-handed pitching prospect Truman Pauley.
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Robert just finished his sixth season with the White Sox. He recorded a .223 batting average with 14 home runs and 53 RBI in 2025, though he missed time late in the season due to a hamstring injury. Robert was an All-Star and a Silver Slugger during the 2023 campaign.
While he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, Robert has shown star ability as a hitter and fielder at his peak. He’s also coming off a season in which he put up a career-high 33 stolen bases. The White Sox picked up Robert’s $20 million option for the 2026 season, and he has another $20 million option with a $2 million buyout for the 2027 season.
Acuña held a .234 batting average with eight RBIs in 95 games last season as a rookie. Pauley spent time with the Mets’ minor-league teams last year after the team drafted him in the 12th round out of Harvard. The 22-year-old has yet to make his big-league debut.
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The White Sox went 60-102 last season, which marked their third straight year losing at least 100 games. They had the worst record in modern MLB history during the 2024 campaign, going 41-121.
The move to bring in Robert is one of several the Mets have made in recent days. Most notably, they reached a three-year, $126 million deal with former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette. The team went 83-79 last season and missed the playoffs for the second time in three seasons despite some aggressive acquisition of talent in recent years.
Robert represents the latest addition for a Mets franchise that hasn’t shied away from spending big under owner Steven Cohen.
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