Luis Robert Jr. has been a frequent fixture in trade speculation for years, and late Tuesday night the White Sox finally made the move official, dealing their All-Star center fielder.
Chicago announced Tuesday that Robert was traded to the Mets in exchange for second baseman Luisangel Acuña and right-handed pitcher Truman Pauley.
TRADE DETAILS
White Sox receive: 2B Luisangel Acuña, RHP Truman Pauley
Mets receive: CF Luis Robert Jr.
The White Sox exercised Robert’s $20 million option for the 2026 season in November, and his contract also carries a $20 million club option for 2027. He was the last remaining player from the organization’s previous rebuild cycle, and his name had circulated in trade discussions dating back to at least the 2024 trade deadline.
As the White Sox embark on another rebuild, the 28-year-old Robert became a key asset capable of accelerating the organization’s long-term plans. By acquiring Acuña, general manager Chris Getz brought in another high-upside young piece to a roster increasingly centered on emerging talent — one who could play a meaningful role when Chicago’s next competitive window arrives.
Pauley was selected by New York in the 12th round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Harvard. The 22-year-old right-hander posted a 2.08 ERA across 4 1/3 innings in three Single-A starts this summer.
Acuña, who turns 24 on March 12, was one of the Mets’ most highly valued prospects, ranking No. 3 in the organization according to MLB Pipeline in 2024. He made his major-league debut on Sept. 14 of that year and impressed immediately, batting .308 with three home runs in 14 games.
Acuña — the younger brother of Braves standout Ronald Acuña Jr. — broke camp on New York’s Opening Day roster last season, primarily filling a bench role while also being optioned to Triple-A on three occasions. He appeared in 95 major-league games, posting a .234/.293/.274 slash line.
Despite those modest big-league numbers, Acuña owns a strong minor-league track record, carrying a .282/.351/.400 line across parts of six seasons. With Chicago, he’s expected to receive more consistent opportunities to tap into that upside.
Acuña projects as a candidate for everyday duty at second base, where he has logged most of his major-league experience (82 games) and extensive time in the minors (131 games). That could shift Chase Meidroth into a utility role, though the trade also leaves the White Sox with a vacancy in center field. Chicago could fill that spot internally with Everson Pereira, acquired from Tampa Bay on Nov. 18, or pursue another addition.
Acuña also brings experience in center field. He made 37 starts there at the Triple-A level over the past two seasons and has appeared in center 17 times this offseason with Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League, along with 23 starts at shortstop during regular-season play. Across 39 games, he posted an impressive .282/.397/.542 slash line, collecting seven doubles, three triples, and eight home runs — including a four-homer performance on Jan. 10.
The White Sox originally signed Robert as an international free agent out of Cuba in May 2017. Over six major-league seasons with Chicago, he produced a .259/.313/.455 slash line and delivered one of the most productive offensive campaigns in recent franchise memory in 2023.
That year, Robert appeared in a career-high 145 games, recording 36 doubles and 38 home runs while posting an .857 OPS. His breakout season earned him his first All-Star selection and his first Silver Slugger Award.
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