The New York Mets acquired former All-Star center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox for infielder Luisangel Acuña and right-handed pitching prospect Truman Pauley, the teams announced Tuesday.
The Mets are taking on the remainder of Robert's contract, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. He's set to earn $20 million in 2026 and comes with a $20-million club option or $2-million buyout for 2027.
"We've got financial flexibility now to bring in (more) talent. We're going to be very active," White Sox general manager Chris Getz said following the trade, according to Chuck Garfien of Chicago Sports Network.
Robert spent his entire six-year career with the White Sox, who signed him as an amateur free agent after he defected from Cuba in 2016. His best season came in 2023, when he was named an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger after hitting .264/.315/.542 with 38 homers, 80 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. He won a Gold Glove and placed second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2020.
The Mets are hoping that a change of scenery will help the 28-year-old rediscover his form. Last season, Robert hit a career-low .223/.297/.364 with 14 homers, 53 RBIs, and 33 steals over 110 games while missing significant time with a hamstring injury. He's suffered from multiple ailments over the last few seasons, including a knee strain in 2023 and a hip flexor strain in 2024.
"Obviously the talent is real," Getz said of Robert, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. "Unfortunately, he hasn't had the consistency that he had hoped or we had hoped. I know that he cares about the game deeply, he wants to play well. It's a challenging game. I know injuries have really held him back."
Despite his offensive struggles, Robert remains a solid defender, tallying seven outs above average in center last year.
Robert will presumably take over as New York's everyday center fielder, with Tyrone Taylor sliding over to left field. Top prospect Carson Benge, who had been projected to break camp in center field prior to Robert's addition, could also still make the team as a corner outfielder.
Robert's right-handed bat will also help balance out what had been a lefty-heavy Mets lineup. He's the second righty bat added by the club in a few days following its signing of star infielder Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126-million contract.
The Mets added Robert to their outfield after being spurned by superstar Kyle Tucker, who rejected their $220-million offer in favor of a four-year, $260-million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York reportedly had interest in Cody Bellinger on a short-term contract before landing Robert.
New York now heads into 2026 with four new bats - Robert, Bichette, first baseman Jorge Polanco, and second baseman Marcus Semien - in its lineup. The club traded stalwart Brandon Nimmo to Texas for Semien in November and allowed franchise icon Pete Alonso to depart in free agency.
Acuña, the younger brother of Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr., owns a .248/.299/.341 slash line with three homers, 14 RBIs, and 16 steals across 109 big-league games since 2024. He spent last season bouncing between New York and Triple-A Syracuse as a utility infielder.
The 23-year-old is a natural infielder and has experience playing second, third, and shortstop. Acuña's also been adding center field to his repertoire this winter, making 17 appearances in center while playing winter ball in Venezuela. He could head into spring as a candidate to earn the White Sox everyday center field job.
Pauley, 22, was the Mets' 12th-round draft pick out of Harvard this past summer. He recorded 91 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings as a sophomore and made three professional starts in Low-A after being drafted.
