Mets Acquire Luis Robert Jr. from White Sox

The New York Mets acquired center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox late Tuesday in a trade aimed at bolstering their outfield defense ahead of the 2026 season. In exchange, the White Sox received infielder Luisangel Acuña and right-handed pitching prospect Truman Pauley.

The deal, first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan, addresses a key need for the Mets following the departures of outfielders Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil earlier in the offseason. Robert, 28, specializes in center field, where he brings strong range and a powerful arm. He replaces Tyrone Taylor as the expected starter in the position. The Mets are absorbing the full remaining value of Robert's contract, which includes a $20 million salary for 2026 and a $20 million club option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Robert enters his seventh major league season after spending his entire career with the White Sox. He earned All-Star and Silver Slugger honors in 2023, when he hit .264 with 38 home runs and an .857 on-base-plus-slugging percentage over 145 games. That year marked his most productive campaign, but injuries have limited his consistency. In 2025,...