New York lands Luis Robert Jr., reshaping the outfield and closing the door on a major free-agent pursuit.
The New York Mets struck a deal with the Chicago White Sox late on Tuesday night, sending center fielder Luis Robert Jr. to New York in exchange for infield prospect Luisangel Acuna and right-hander Truman Pauley. Now that the Mets have found their everyday center fielder, it has had big implications on the sweepstakes for the top free agent outfielder.
After the biggest free agent of the offseason, outfielder Kyle Tucker, chose the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Mets, the focus swiftly shifted to the second-best option: Cody Bellinger. Bellinger played with the cross-town rival New York Yankees in 2025, but he’s been sitting on an offer to return to the club to see if there is a more enticing offer from around the league. The Mets have been tabbed as one of the top suitors for Bellinger during the offseason, and that only heated up once Tucker was snagged off the market.
Last night’s trade shifted the Bellinger market entirely, however. After trading away one of their top young players in Acuna, the Mets seem to have chosen Robert Jr. over signing Bellinger to a massive deal. Instead, New York will bring in Robert Jr. and his $20 million salary for 2026. If all goes well in Queens next season, the Mets can also exercise a club option for another $20 million for the 2027 campaign.
Bellinger has since signed with the Yankees on a five-year, $162.5 million contract on Wednesday. He'll return to the Bronx, where he enjoyed the second-highest WAR of his career.
Choosing to land Robert Jr. over Bellinger is a risky move from the Mets’ front office, and it’s going to depend on his ability to get back to the production levels he saw in the early 2020s. In 2023, Robert Jr. looked to be one of the game’s budding superstars, showcasing real five-tool talent and making his first All-Star game. With 38 home runs and an .857 OPS while playing elite defense, it seemed like a sure thing that Robert Jr. would become one of baseball’s prominent outfielders.
He slowed down in the following seasons, however. Since that 2023 campaign, Robert Jr. hasn’t had a season with an above league-average OPS. His defense is still there, but New York is banking on him finding his bat once again.
It’s a gamble, but it makes a lot of sense for the team. Bellinger’s 125 OPS+ and elite defense would have shone in the Mets’ outfield, but after committing $126 million to infielder Bo Bichette, they don’t have the money to sign Bellinger while also filling out the rest of the roster needs.
With one year on Robert Jr.’s deal and a team option after that, the Mets aren’t digging themselves in a hole. Even if he doesn’t have a great season at the plate, the addition of Robert Jr. to New York’s outfield is undoubtedly a positive, as it addresses possibly their roster’s biggest issue.