Mets' Luis Robert trade is another dollar store move to keep up with Dodgers

After reports of a failed blockbuster at the 2024 trade deadline, which would've brought then-White Sox ace Garrett Crochet, outfielder Luis Robert Jr., and reliever Michael Kopech to LA, rumors of the Dodgers' interest in Robert have refused to die.

The Dodgers pivoted at that deadline to acquire Kopech from the White Sox and Tommy Edman from the Cardinals in a three-way trade, and then Crochet was sent to the Red Sox in the following offseason. Robert stayed put, and for good reason. He hit .224 with a .657 OPS in an injury-abbreviated 2024 season.

His 2025 didn't look much better (.223/.661, and injuries still took out about a third of his season), but that didn't stop insiders from identifying Robert as a potential Dodgers trade target this winter.

Luckily, the White Sox found a far more desperate taker for Robert — and they tricked them into a massive overpay. On Tuesday night, they sent Robert to the Mets in exchange for Luisangel Acuña and pitcher Truman Pauley.

Robert hasn't had a fully healthy season since 2023, when he earned an All-Star nod, MVP votes, and a Silver Slugger. The Mets are banking on him getting back to full form in a desperate attempt to keep up.

Luis Robert Jr. ending up with the Mets finally kills Dodgers rumors

The Mets were reportedly in a mad scramble to sign Cody Bellinger after they missed out on Kyle Tucker, but they've done the Yankees a favor by dealing for Robert and perhaps leaving the Bronx the only logical destination for Bellinger (which it always sort of was anyway).

For the Mets to pivot from Bellinger, who has certainly had his ups-and-downs but has three solid seasons behind him, to Robert, who they'll pay $20 million this season while keeping fingers crossed for a comeback, is laughable. Robert is younger and is still an elite defensive center fielder, but if the bat doesn't improve, it'll be an overpay on top of an overpay. The Mets already gave up a former top prospect with a good pedigree in Acuña.

After signing Bo Bichette and trading for Robert, the Mets' 2026 payroll is indeed close to where it was in 2025, just like Steve Cohen promised. But it seems fair to assume that this was not the offseason spending Mets fans were expecting, and their team already proved that a high payroll does not a contender make.