Steve Cohen’s money isn’t just an asset that goes to the top of the market to, say, steal Bo Bichette away from the Phillies at the eleventh hour. But also to take a chance. And I’d take a really valuable bet on Luis Robert Jr.
The Mets completed a trade Tuesday night — hours after the best center fielder in their history, Carlos Beltrán, was elected to the Hall of Fame — to acquire Robert from the White Sox to try to fix center field, giving up Luisangel Acuña and pitching prospect Truman Pauley.
The trade works for a team with the money to try, as even Robert’s downside should bring excellent defense, stolen bases, a strong showing against lefty pitching and some power. If the Mets got nothing more than that, it would significantly improve their center field situation and be a boost to David Stearns’ call for “run prevention.”
And as recently as 2023, Robert was one of the majors’ best players, finishing with 5.3 Wins Above Replacement (Baseball Reference) and 12th for AL MVP. He’s only 28, so apparently in his prime. He comes to a team where he won’t be expected to carry it like the woeful White Sox, but as a more complementary player. So there’s no zero percent chance the Mets can get any impact here from a player who hit 38 home runs in 2023 and has an 81 percent career success rate (102 of 126).
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