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\u201cIt\u2019s really about being able to bring in Acu\u00f1a, get access to him,\u201d Getz told reporters about the trade Wednesday. \u201cWe\u2019re talking about a player with five-plus years of control, one of the younger, exciting players in our game who hasn\u2019t really gotten a runway at the major league level.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The Mets traded Luisangel Acu\u00f1a to the White on Tuesday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST<\/p>\n
Acu\u00f1a, 23, joined the Mets at the 2023 trade deadline as the centerpiece of the deal that sent legendary pitcher\u00a0Max Scherzer to the Rangers<\/a>.<\/p>\n MLB.com <\/a>ranked the speedster as New York\u2019s third-best prospect in 2024, and he impressed in his brief major league debut that year, slashing .308\/.325\/.641 with three homers and six RBIs in 14 games.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n He got off to a strong start in 2025, earning NL Rookie of the Month honors for April before falling into a deep slump and being demoted to Triple-A.<\/p>\n The Mets shuttled Acu\u00f1a between the majors and minors the rest of the year as he hit a paltry .234 with no home runs and eight RBIs over 95 games.<\/p>\n Still, Getz believes Acu\u00f1a\u2019s speed and versatility \u2013 with experience at second base, third base, shortstop and in the outfield \u2013 make him a prime breakout candidate with consistent playing time.<\/p>\n He already flashed some of that potential earlier this month with a historic Venezuelan winter league performance, hitting four home runs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI know [the Mets] didn\u2019t want to get rid of him,\u201d Getz said. \u201cI know that. That\u2019s because of how valuable he can be to the team.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, he was on a roster that didn\u2019t really allow him to let him go out there and show what he could do regularly. We\u2019ll be able to provide that.\u201d<\/p>\n After a strong start to 2025, Acu\u00f1a shuttled between the majors and Triple-A the rest of the year. Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post<\/p>\n Getz\u2019s faith in Acu\u00f1a echoed that of Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns during the GM Meetings in November.<\/p>\n \u201cAcu\u00f1a is such a unique player because the floor is so high of what he can provide,\u201d\u00a0Stearns said.<\/a>\u00a0\u201cHe\u2019s such a good defender, a gifted defender at multiple positions, and an elite baserunner. So the offensive contribution doesn\u2019t need to be elite for him to solidify an everyday role on a major league team.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI still have very high hopes for him. We need to see a little bit more offensive contribution than we\u2019ve probably seen previously, but he is a very, very good defensive player and there\u2019s a real role for that on a good team.\u201d<\/p>\n In a Wednesday Instagram post,<\/a> Acu\u00f1a bid farewell to the Mets, expressing gratitude for his time with the organization before addressing his \u201cnew chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n The Mets acquired Luis Robert Jr., who is coming off two disappointing seasons but offers tantalizing speed, defense and offensive upside. Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post<\/p>\n \u201cToday, I begin a new chapter,\u201d the post read. \u201cChicago, I\u2019m ready to take on this challenge on the South Side. I\u2019m thankful to the Chicago White Sox organization for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I arrive with excitement, commitment, and a strong desire to continue growing both as a player and as a person.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Mets\u2019 signing of Bo Bichette, who was officially introduced at Citi Field on Wednesday, tacked on to New York\u2019s existing surplus of infielders, thus making Acuna expendable.<\/p>\n In what\u2019s been a busy offseason for the White Sox<\/a> \u2013 highlighted by the signing of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami \u2013 Acu\u00f1a also became the club\u2019s latest acquisition of a former top Mets prospect.<\/p>\n Chicago has already signed left-hander Anthony Kay, the Mets\u2019 2016 first-round pick, to a two-year deal after his stint in Japan, and also took a flier on outfielder Jarred Kelenic.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"After](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/bda009916ba5b916db82f5d4635f91c5.jpeg\"\/)
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