Mets acquire CF Luis Robert Jr. in
a trade with the White Sox
[January 21, 2026]
By JAY COHEN
CHICAGO (AP) — The New York Mets acquired Luis Robert Jr. in a trade
with the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, filling a hole in center
field.
New York sent infielder Luisangel Acuña and minor league pitcher
Truman Pauley to Chicago for Robert, who has struggled with injuries
and inconsistency since a stellar 2023 season.
The Mets had been looking for outfield help since they traded
Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien.
They were in the mix for Kyle Tucker before he signed with the Los
Angeles Dodgers.
The trade was announced after New York finalized a $126 million,
three-year contract with Bo Bichette, a two-time All-Star shortstop
who is moving to third base with the Mets.
Robert hit a career-low .223 with 14 homers, 53 RBIs and a
career-best 33 steals in 110 games last year. Despite the shaky
performance, the White Sox picked up his $20 million option for
2026.
Robert's contract also has a $20 million club option for 2027 with a
$2 million buyout.
New York is looking to return to the playoffs after it faded to an
83-79 record last year. Popular slugger Pete Alonso and star closer
Edwin Díaz departed in free agency, but the Mets signed closer Devin
Williams, reliever Luke Weaver and infielder Jorge Polanco.
The 23-year-old Acuña hit .234 with eight RBIs and 16 steals in 95
games with New York last season. Acuña, who can play second base,
third base and shortstop, was acquired by the Mets in a July 2023
trade with the Rangers for Max Scherzer.
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Acuña joins a promising group of young position
players that also includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Chase
Meidroth. The White Sox finished last in the AL Central last year
with a 60-102 record, a 19-game improvement from the previous
season.
Pauley, 22, was a 12th-round pick in the 2025
amateur draft out of Harvard. He had no record and a 2.08 ERA in
three starts with Class A St. Lucie last year.
Robert, who turns 29 in August, made his major league debut with
Chicago in 2020, winning a Gold Glove and finishing second to Kyle
Lewis in balloting for AL Rookie of the Year. He made the AL
All-Star team in 2023, when he hit .264 with 38 homers, 80 RBIs and
20 steals in 145 games.
Robert got off to a tough start last year, batting .190 with nine
homers, 35 RBIs and 93 strikeouts in his first 79 games. He was
believed to be on the market ahead of the trade deadline, but the
White Sox opted to keep the slumping slugger.
He was much better after the All-Star break, hitting .298 (34 for
114) with five homers and 18 RBIs in 31 games. He was placed on the
10-day injured list on Aug. 27 with a left hamstring strain, ending
his season.
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