Luis Robert Jr. has been traded to the New York Mets in a multi-player deal involving several prospects from the Big Apple, as reported just a few hours ago by prominent journalist Jeff Passan. Several days ago, the White Sox exercised their option on the Cuban outfielder for another year.
According to Passan, the Mets acquired Robert Jr. after trading Luisangel Acuña and pitcher Trauman Pauley. The Mets will assume Robert Jr.’s full salary of $20 million, which he had agreed to with the White Sox, plus a $20 million option for 2027. The player from Ciego de Ávila will be moving from a last-place team to one that should be competing for a playoff spot.
During the 2025 season, Robert Jr. hit .223, with an on-base percentage of .297, a slugging percentage of .364, and an OPS of .661. The “Balck Panther” as he is known by the Cuban hit 14 home runs and 12 doubles, and also stole 33 bases. Though experienced ups and downs throughout the season at times he showed flashes of the offernsive force he can be at the plate.
According to the specialized statistics website Fangraphs, Luis Robert Jr.’s 2026 season will be better than his previous ones from an offensive standpoint, as he is expected to surpass 20 home runs and 70 RBIs. It would also be his last year under contract before entering free agency.
According to Fangraphs, the talented outfielder will swat 129 base hits, his second-best mark of his career after the 144 he smashed in 2023. Those 20 home runs would also be his second-best mark, after the 38 he hit in 2023; these would be the only two times he would hit more than 20 home runs over a season in his career.
Pulling the trigger on this trade shows that the Mets are confident that the Cuban slugger will perform as he did in 2023, where he was one of the best players in all of Major League Baseball both bat and glove. If he can stay healthy for most of the season, he could become a key player for the 1969 and 1986 World Series champions.