Jan. 21 (UPI) — The New York Mets agreed to trade for Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr., the teams announced.
The Mets will send infielder Luisangel Acuna and minor league right-handed pitcher Truman Pauley to the White Sox in the transaction. Robert, 28, hit a career-low .223 with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs over 110 appearances last season. He hit .264 with a career-best 38 home runs and 80 RBIs over 145 appearances in 2023 en route to his lone All-Star selection.
Robert hit .259 with 102 RBIs and 102 stolen bases over the first 577 games of his career.
He signed a six-year, $50 million contract with the White Sox in 2020. The White Sox exercised his $20 million option for 2026 in November. he has another $20 million option in 2027.
Acuna, the brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna, hit .234 with 8 RBIs over 95 appearances last season for the Mets. He hit .308 with three homers and 6 RBIs over 14 appearances in 2024. The 23-year-old hit .303 with 10 RBIs over 28 appearances last season at the minor league level.
Pauley, 22, recorded a 2.08 ERA over three appearances last season for the St. Lucie Mets, the Mets’ Class-A affiliate. The 12th round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft went 5-10 with a 5.20 ERA over 29 collegiate appearances in 2024 and 2025 at Harvard.
Robert is set to slide into a Mets lineup that also features Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and recently signed infielder Bo Bichette, among others.
Mets pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report Feb. 11 to spring training. The full squad will report Feb. 16 to Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (C) celebrates with teammates after the Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings in Game 7 to win the World Series in Toronto on November 1, 2025. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo