The Mets have received initial trade interest Luis Robert Jr.Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report. He was returned to the 60-day disabled list on Monday after missing nearly three months with a herniated disc in his back.
Robert has two weeks to prove his health before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. He was in the starting lineup Monday and Tuesday. The Mets gave him the day off this afternoon in Milwaukee, using him as a pinch hitter. He is 1-10 with a solo home run and five hits since returning. Robert has a .211/.306/.337 slash line with multiple homers in 108 plate appearances this season.
The Mets obviously haven’t gotten much out of their running back for the talented but often injured outfielder. New York broke away from it Luisangel Acuña and the opportunity to think Truman Pauley acquiring Robert from the White Sox in January. Acuña is having a rough season and Pauley is struggling to throw strikes in Low-A. The biggest expense for the Mets was their decision to acquire Robert’s $20MM salary and $2MM buyout for his 2027 club option, which is also $20MM. That came with a 110% tax making this a $46.2MM investment.
Robert did not stay healthy and did not return to his 2023 form. He’s hitting below average over the past three seasons, hitting .222/.290/.368 in nearly 1000 plate appearances over that span. Robert still has plus-plus bat speed and the tools to be an elite defensive center fielder. His physicality has surprised the Mets, but his lack of durability and enthusiasm to chase the plate has kept him a bit out of place since his great ’23 season.
The Mets are reportedly reluctant to spend money to facilitate a trade during their upcoming trade. They will likely need to make an exception for Robert, who will be owed around $8MM at the end of the season (including buyouts). They rarely find anyone willing to carry a full load given recent injuries.
There’s no reason for the Mets to hold him beyond the deadline, though. They won’t exercise the 2027 option and don’t have at-bats to offer every day in the outfield. Juan Soto, Carson Benge again AJ Ewing again Jorge Polanco serving as the first designated hitter. Interim captain Andy Green will find ways to include Robert in the lineup for the next few weeks as a showcase for other clubs.
The Diamondbacks, Astros, Cardinals, Guardians, Orioles, Padres, Rays, and Phillies are among the teams that may participate in the small field market. The Rangers could add a right-handed hitter. Daulton Varsho should be the top rental center available for the Blue Jays slump. Controllable trade candidates for the position include Jake McCarthy, Jacob Young and changing opportunities for places like Colton Cowser again TJ Friedl.
Robert is one of several Mets players who should be on the road over the next 10 days. Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, AJ Minter, Tyrone Taylor again Brooks Raley their other free services to come. There has been talk about the Mets possibly extending Holmes or giving him a qualifying offer instead, but Rosenthal and Sammon report that a trade is still the best outcome. Luke Weaver again Huascar Brazoban they are some of the players under more control than this season that the Mets may be looking to manage.
