Trade Chip Luis Robert Jr. Activated Off Mets' Injured List

[Steve Drumwright]

The return of Luis Robert Jr. comes just in time for the New York Mets.

No, not because they need him to make a push for the postseason. That is already out the door. But Robert, a center fielder activated off the 60-day injured list Monday following a lumbar spine disc herniation that has kept him out since the end of April, could bring the Mets something in a trade if he shows he is healthy and can perform in the next two weeks.

To make room for Robert on the roster, first baseman Eric Wagaman was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets had an open spot on their 40-man roster. Also, shortstop Zack Short, who cleared waivers after being designated for assignment, was outrighted to Triple-A. He has the option to choose free agency.

Robert, acquired in January from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for infielder Luisangel Acuna and right-hander Truman Pauley, has a .224/.327/.329 slash line with two homers and eight RBIs over 24 games in his first season with the Mets. He has a club option for $20 million that the Mets are surely to decline at this point.

Wagaman has shuttled between Syracuse and the Mets, posting a .162/.262/.324 slash line over 21 games in the majors.

View full rumor

[MFS62]

(I can't believe I'm writing this, but) He's going to take playing time away from Taylor as the RH OF option. 

Later

[smg58]

We are presumably shopping both of them, so I would expect to see them both in there often.  Which would mean plenty of Soto at DH (not necessarily a bad thing), and probably a fair amount of Ewing at second (not a good thing, but I'll deal with it if it optimizes the return).

[Frayed Knot]

I can't imagine what Robert could do in the next two weeks that would make anyone want to trade for him. There simply isn't enough time and even if he catches fire it'll be seen as a small sample size too iffy to chase.

[Cowtipper]

Estoy de acuerdo porque I don't see any real allure to a guy who's proven to be as fragile as papier mache and who can hit about effectively as a dummy made of said material, They'd be buying the name and the "what if based on what he once was" .... wait a minute, that's the Mets thing to do! 

[seawolf17]

I don't know - I think Robert could be an interesting piece. Part of the problem is that he and Taylor are almost the same player, so the market could be muted.