The New York Mets added another All-Star to their roster Tuesday night, trading for center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox.
Robert’s move to Queens comes less than a week after the Mets splashed on infielder Bo Bichette to address their needs at the hot corner. The outfielder had a subpar 2025 season, posting an OPS below .700 for the second season in a row.
The 28-year-old’s strengths still shined, though, as he recorded 33 stolen bases and seven outs above average last season. The outfield was far and away the Mets’ biggest need after signing Bichette, and now that they’ve figured themselves out in that regard, they can change the direction of their offseason.
Who Did the Mets Trade Away?
The Mets dealt infielder Luisangel Acuña and minor league right-hander Truman Pauley to the White Sox in exchange for Robert, further decreasing the overabundance of second basemen on their roster.
Acuña played 95 games for the Mets in 2025, posting a .567 OPS with no home runs and eight RBIs during that time. He seems to have made some progress in the power department during the offseason, though, as he hit four home runs in a single game in the Venezuelan Winter League.
The Mets drafted Pauley in the 12th round of the 2025 Draft and immediately got him started in Single-A in August. He made three starts and allowed a single run through 4.1 innings, though didn’t allow a hit throughout his short season.
What Will the Mets Focus on Now?
Starting pitching is the clearest need for the Mets, as they currently lack a clear No. 1 starter. Nolan McLean bursted onto the scene late in 2025 — posting a 2.06 ERA through eight starts — and is an early frontrunner for the 2026 Rookie of the Year award, but some more insurance in the Mets’ rotation would give this team the depth they need to get back into the postseason after missing out last year.
ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez believes a high-profile pitching signing would make a successful offseason for the Mets despite all of their All-Star departures.
“If the Mets get a front-of-the-rotation starter — and I would be shocked if they don’t — they will have had a really good offseason,” he wrote.
The Mets’ recent moves have sent a clear message to the rest of the National League after narrowly missing the postseason in 2025: They want to compete. They aren’t the only ones, though, as the Dodgers are also strengthening their team and look to complete their three-peat in 2025.
