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Luis Robert Jr. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Fresh off making their acquisition of Bo Bichette official, the Mets struck again on Jan. 20 when they traded infielder Luisangel Acuña and righthander Truman Pauley to the White Sox in exchange for center fielder Luis Robert Jr.
Once considered the centerpiece of Chicago’s future, Robert’s last few seasons have been divided between stretches of unproductivity and flashes of his former five-tool potential. A move to a contending club, the Mets hope, could help the best parts of his game show up more often.
Acuña was acquired from the Rangers in the deal that sent Max Scherzer to Texas, and Pauley was New York’s 12th-round pick last summer.
METS ACQUIRE
Luis Robert Jr., OF
Age: 28
Robert Jr. signed with Chicago in 2017 and quickly ascended into the upper realms of what at the time was an overflowing White Sox farm system. He debuted in 2020 and finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. He was on a star track for the next three seasons. Robert Jr.’s best year came in 2023 when he racked up 5.3 bWAR, made the all-star team, received MVP votes and won the Silver Slugger. He’s struggled mightily over the past two years, failing to produce an OPS of greater than .661 in either campaign while punching out far too many times to be effective.
WHITE SOX ACQUIRE
Luisangel Acuña, 2B
Age: 22
Once among the Rangers’ top prospects, Acuña made his big league debut with New York in 2024 and got his first extended look a year later, when he bounced around the diamond for 95 games. The Mets’ move for Bichette—paired with their earlier acquisition of Marcus Semien—completed an infield picture that also includes all-world shortstop Francisco Lindor and Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio and Jorge Polanco. That left Acuña as the odd man out. Playing time will be easier to come by in Chicago, where he’ll have plenty of chances to establish himself on a team trying to climb back to prominence.
Truman Pauley, RHP
Age: 22
Pauley was taken by the Mets in the 12th round of the 2025 draft out of Harvard, where he pitched for two seasons. He made his pro debut with Low-A St. Lucie, where he spun 4.1 innings over three outings. He worked with a four-pitch mix in the Florida State League, showing a fastball that averaged 93 mph, touched a tick hotter and displayed heavy sinking action. He complemented the heater with a slider, cutter and splitter. He has yet to allow a hit as a pro. Pauley is well built at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds and delivers from a roughly three-quarters slot.