The Mets have reportedly shown interest in trading for Luis Robert Jr. this offseason, but financial hurdles could complicate any potential deal.
According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, the Mets have inquired about Robert. But they want the White Sox to cover part of his $20 million salary. However, Heyman reports that White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf is unlikely to send any money to Steve Cohen’s club. This comes even though they’ve only committed $43 million to the current payroll and are projected to spend only about $60 million on next year’s roster.
However, Ken Rosenthal of the New York Times reports that a club official told him the White Sox would be willing to include cash as a way of enhancing their return.
In previous reports, MLB insider Michael Marino mentioned that Luisangel Acuna is a player the White Sox have targeted in a potential trade with the Mets. However, Acuna alone would likely not be enough to get a deal done. If the White Sox want a stronger return, they must be willing to eat some of the cost of Robert’s contract, especially with him coming off back-to-back seasons with an OPS in the mid-600s.
For a team seemingly determined to trade Robert, the White Sox aren’t doing themselves many favors if Heyman's report is correct. The front office kept him after his 2023 All-Star season, only to watch his value plunge in 2024 when he posted a career-low 1.4 WAR. He followed that with another 1.4 WAR season in 2025.
When Chicago picked up Robert’s $20 million option, the front office knew they couldn’t find an outfielder with his upside for less on the open market. But if the plan is to trade him after exercising that option, they’ll need to be willing to absorb part of the cost to get a meaningful prospect return or gamble that his value rebounds by the trade deadline.
The White Sox are more likely to take the latter approach. Robert showed signs of life before a hamstring strain in late August ended his season, posting an .808 OPS in the second half and looking revitalized alongside the team’s young core. After the All-Star break, he slashed .298/.352/.446, much closer to the version that hit 38 homers and produced 5.3 WAR during his All-Star campaign.
With that in mind, moving Robert while his value is still depressed after two uneven seasons does little for the White Sox. Especially when he can still help a rebuilding roster with his.
