How do the New York Mets finish their offseason? There’s no rush to finalize everything. The season won’t begin for a few more months. Tell that to impatient Mets fans still waiting for something truly satisfying to occur.
David Stearns has put it all on the line this offseason. A complete overhaul of the roster has doubters wondering if he’s the right man for the job. Whether you agree or not with what he has done, it’s these three trades and trio of free agent signings that match most closely with what they are trying to accomplish.
1) Trade for Luis Robert Jr.
This has to happen, right? The Mets and Chicago White Sox haven’t been able to agree on terms yet. Luis Robert Jr.’s $20 million contract for 2026 is a part of the reason why because the Mets are indeed buying low on him. This is a trade more complicated than just swapping players. The White Sox want to relieve themselves of as much salary as they can. The Mets don’t want to pay the whole bill nor do they want to feel robbed with the prospects the White Sox receive.
If it happens or not, Robert remains a near-perfect fit for the Mets.
One guaranteed season fits. So does Robert’s ability to defend, run, and hit for power. Even if he produces a sub-.250 batting average year yet again, the Mets are significantly better with Robert playing center field for the majority of the season than Tyrone Taylor.
The shortness of his contract and potential reward of what Robert can do when healthy is tantalizing. With the surplus of pitching prospects they have to deal away, they should be able to assemble a package of quality and quantity the White Sox can’t refuse.