Mets Have Reportedly Checked In On Luis Robert Jr. Trade

MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported earlier this week that the White Sox hope to trade Luis Robert Jr. by Memorial Day. That report immediately created speculation as to which teams could have interest in the 27-year-old outfielder this early in the season. The New York Mets are one of those teams, per a new report from Nightengale. He elaborated by saying the Mets have checked in on Robert Jr., with the White Sox "eyeing" pitching prospect Blade Tidwell as part of the return.

Logical Fit For Mets

The Mets' interest in Robert Jr. makes sense. Tyrone Taylor has been their primary center fielder and has performed reasonably well, but lacks the power, speed, and upside Robert Jr. brings to the equation. Robert Jr. would be an undeniable upgrade and deepen a Mets lineup already featuring stars like Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso. In addition, Robert Jr. has team options for 2026 and 2027, potentially giving the Mets a long-term solution in center field. The Mets have also experienced injuries in their outfield, with Jose Siri and Jesse Winker on the injured list. Their depth has taken a hit and could also explain their interest in Robert Jr.

Tidwell's Player Profile

Blade Tidwell was the Mets' second-round pick in 2022 and currently sits at the #15 prospect in their organization per MLB.com. According to scouting reports, the 23-year-old right-handed pitcher has a 60-grade slider and 55-grade fastball. In seven starts at the Triple-A level in 2025, the 6'4, 207-pound right-hander has just a 4.45 ERA in 30.1 innings, but has struck out an eye-popping 42 hitters. Tidwell has also made one appearance for the Mets' big league team this year, but gave up six runs in just 3.2 innings.

White Sox Perspective

Tidwell is not a top prospect and has not performed all that well in the minors, which makes it interesting that Nightengale specifically mentioned his name as part of this rumor. His career minor league ERA rests at over 4.00, but he has generated massive strikeout totals. However, a team can never have too much pitching. It is also worth noting that Nightengale said "as part of a package in return", implying that it would not be a one-for-one swap. The White Sox could use more position player talent, which the Mets have. 14 of their top 20 prospects per MLB.com are hitters.

Rumor To Keep An Eye On

Jon Heyman of the New York Post threw cold water on this rumor earlier this morning by stating that there is nothing "hot" between the two teams, but also said that center field could be an area of interest for New York down the road. Still, the Mets' interest in Robert Jr. is a new development in this saga and is worth keeping an eye on as the July 30th trade deadline continues to near. Robert Jr. will likely be one of the hottest trade chips on the market this year and should have a new home shortly.