Mets Predicted to Trade for $50 Million Outfielder After Juan Soto News

Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller proposed the Mets pursue Robert, a 2023 All-Star in the final guaranteed season of a six-year, $50 million contract. Any team that acquires Robert can keep him through 2027 via two $20 million club options.

Robert, who turns 28 in August, entered Saturday hitting .187 with five home runs, 20 RBI, and a league-high 21 stolen bases. However, his .578 OPS is easily a career-worst, and he’s hit just .212 with a 204-51 K-BB ratio across the last two years.

“[C]enter fielders worth anything close to a darn aren’t exactly growing on trees and readily available at the trade deadline,” Miller wrote.

Indeed, Robert would almost certainly man center field—the only position he’s played since his 2020 debut—if the Mets acquired him. Mendoza has primarily started Jose Siri and Tyrone Taylor in center.

Although Robert is an upgrade over those two, his continued offensive regression is nonetheless concerning. It's also unclear how aggressive the White Sox will be when discussing a return package, especially with a win-now team like the Mets.

Robert went 1-for-5 with a stolen base against the Mets earlier this week. We’ll see if he joins Soto in calling Citi Field home before the summer ends.