Hello, I Must Be Luis Robert

[Edgy MD]

I am 27 years old, and in my time, I have had one good and one very good year. But I have stunk it up the last two years, and the Sox, fresh off of landing a big, slugging Japanese firstbaseman, are thinking about maybe it is a good time to move me.

The Sox want pitching, and the Mets may be as hot to unload Sean Manaea as the Sox are to move me, so the matchup may be right even if the personnel aren't so enticing. For my part, I know what it is like to lose 100 games, and I am a rare bird who knows what it is like to lose 120, so don't say I wouldn't bring something to the table. I WOULD!

At some point, you fans have to believe your GM or president or whatever knows something that you don't, but that don't make him right. It sure didn't make him right about centerfield last year, starting with Jose Siri and finishing with Cedric Mullins, and not a lot of tasty layers in between. BUT THAT WOULDN'T MAKE HIM NECESSARILY WRONG IF HE WENT AND GOT THIS CUBAN CENTERFIELD GUY!

It probably kind of makes him more likely to be wrong, sure, but hey, either way, you might want to talk about me!

[FIMG=600]https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/01/29220659/GettyImages-2171826058-1024x683.jpg?width=1920&quality=70&auto=webp[/FIMG]

[Gwreck]

Hard pass. Robert is barely an upgrade over Tyrone Taylor (and in 2024 would have been a downgrade).

Separately, it seems pretty hard to fathom the Mets being desperate to get rid of two years of Sean Manaea’s contract, and even harder to fathom that they’d trade him to save a grand total of $10M over the next two years.

[smg58]

Robert is the short half of a platoon on a good team -- he hits lefties well consistently, and hit righties well once. If you pay a price that's worth the short half of a platoon, and get a good lefty bat to pair him with, then sure. But as much as I like the Murakami deal for the CWS, I think failing to trade Robert at the deadline and then bringing him back at $20M (club option) was a mistake. He's just not that kind of player.

[Benjamin Grimm]

We've been hearing about the Mets having an interest in Robert for well over a year now. I still don't get it. He showed decline in 2024 and didn't bounce back in 2025. If they want him as a defensive replacement/pinch runner, that's fine, but his salary and the White Sox asking price are both too high for someone who will fill that role.

[ashie62]

Stearns loves him. That's all that matters

The guy has the tools. I don't know that he doesn't have a ten cent brain

He will be our starting CF

[Centerfield]

Tantalizing upside. And even in a down year he gives you speed, defense and 14 HR. Agree that bad Robert is barely an upgrade over Taylor, but even if he can get halfway back to 2023, he’d be very valuable.

Would be fine with the $20M, but wouldn’t want to give up prospect capital to get him.

Sure. They can have Sean Manaea.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Sure. They can have Sean Manaea.

 

Maybe. But before they start dealing starting pitchers I'd like to see them acquire some.

[Edgy MD]

I will be honest. I did not do much more than passing perusal of the Luis Robert, Jr. content floating by. It seemed that the Sox were "looking for pitching," and I just assumed that Manaea's name would be further down. (These AI articles seem aggressively programmed to bury the lede and therefore keep eyes on the page as long as possible.)

It seemed like the type of deal that would be on the table. Robert is mainly a good acquisition only in the context that if he doesn't go crashing through his floor (like Jose Siri and Cedric Mullins did), he can add modest MLB-quality stability in center until the guy they really want — possibly Jett Williams — is ready.

But right now, that's kind of who Sean Manaea is — the guy who can add to modest MLB-quality stability to a rotation spot until the guy they really want — possibly Jonah Tong — is ready. If he doesn't go crashing through his floor. Again.

So, such a trade may not swap problems, so much as it perhaps swaps sub-optimal solutions. It would leave a gap elsewhere, while not necessarily solving a problem, but that is not necessarily a gap that cannot be otherwise filled.

King Ralph used to say that this is why trades are made — different organizations having different assessments of talent. Maybe (if this is even the trade on the table), the Mets think that Robert is a better comeback candidate than Manaea. Or a better candidate to provide modest stability, anyhow.

I dunno, but I haven't seen the inside of Sean Manea's arm recently.

[MFS62]

We've been hearing about the Mets having an interest in Robert for well over a year now. I still don't get it. He showed decline in 2024 and didn't bounce back in 2025. If they want him as a defensive replacement/pinch runner, that's fine, but his salary and the White Sox asking price are both too high for someone who will fill that role.

Many of us were a hard fast NO when this originally surfaced.

Since then, his production as well as my enthusiasm for him have declined.

Later

[ashie62]

I saw a Gary Cohen short video yesterday as I'm sure many of you have. I took away three things

1. Believes Mets should be all in on Kyle Tucker even if he is a lefty bat and not of the 40 homer type

2. Acknowledged the possibility of a 1B platoon of Paul Goldschmidt and Jeff McNeil

3. Mets are keeping the runway open for the young guys

The White Sox just spent 34 million on a free agent. Luis Robert gots to go. Guessing the White Sox demands for him have lessened

My updated 2026 lineup as of today

C Alvarez

1B Polanco

2B Semien

3B Baty

SS Lindor

LF Benge

CF Robert

RF Soto

DH Vientos

No Tucker Bellinger etc, today