As of Wednesday, the New York Mets are tied with the Chicago Cubs for the best record in the National League. While the Mets are poised for a strong playoff push, some areas of their roster still need improvement—particularly in center field, where their combined on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) is just .684. Tyrone Taylor has seen the most time at the position, excelling defensively but offering little offensive production.
On the “Talkin’ Baseball Podcast,” analyst Jake Storiale predicted that the Mets could make a major move by acquiring outfielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox. “If I had to pick right now, I’d say the Mets,” Storiale said. “Steve [Cohen] should open the wallet. You don’t need to give up too much, and he could catch fire for three months.”
Robert signed a six-year, $50 million contract before playing in the majors, and the deal includes two $20 million club options for 2026 and 2027. Despite his high ceiling, Robert has been inconsistent due to injuries. His best season came in 2023, when he was named an All-Star and hit 38 home runs. While he has remained healthy this year, he’s struggled at the plate, posting a .190/.275/.305 slash line.
Even though Robert hasn’t outperformed Taylor so far this season, his upside remains significant. If the Mets believe he can regain his All-Star form, they might be willing to take the risk. Recent signs of improvement—he’s hitting .265/.324/.412 since June 6—suggest he could be finding his rhythm.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Mets could view Robert as a high-reward addition to bolster their postseason chances, even if the move comes with financial and performance uncertainties.
