MLB free agency has just about been cleared out of all the top targets left on the market. The Philadelphia Phillies got their share of the excitement, albeit mostly from returning players, but they've spent again to stay competitive in a stacked National League.
It's growing more difficult to fend off rivals with each passing year, with the big pockets of some ownership groups refusing to lay dormant. The New York Mets are a club that has spent exorbitantly in free agency, but their latest acquisition takes care of another problem for the Phillies.
Late Tuesday night, the Mets traded for center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for infielder Luisangel Acuña and right-handed pitching prospect Truman Pauley. The Mets will also pay Robert $20 million in 2026.
After years of interest, the Phillies rumor mill can move on from Luis Robert Jr. after trade to Mets
The trade came out of nowhere with no prior warning that Robert's market was heating up. Now he immediately goes from the consistent basement-dwelling White Sox to a Mets club hoping to return to the postseason. It seemed inevitable that he would get moved at some point, but the Phillies always seemed like the team that had a real shot to land him. Now thoughts of any future discussions can finally be laid to rest.
Philadelphia had come up numerous times when it came to Robert's market and potential destinations, both at trade deadlines and during offseasons. The Phillies had the prospects to get a deal done, but a deal never materialized.
The Phillies even offered infielder Aidan Miller back in 2024, but the White Sox expressed a desire to get more back in the deal, like top pitching prospect Andrew Painter. The Phillies wisely passed and now face Robert within the NL East for at least 2026.
Still only 28 years old, Robert has an exciting ceiling with his raw power and ability to play the outfield. He's injury-prone and had another down year in 2025, however, with a .223 batting average and .661 OPS in just 110 games. So, it's not the most excitement headed the Mets' way.
There's also a reason why the Phillies were linked to him for such a long time. He could have filled a hole in the Phillies' lack of outfield depth years ago. It would have been exciting to see him smack home runs at Citizens Bank Park, but Phillies fans want just the opposite with him wearing another color of pinstripes.
We'll also be glad that we don't have to hear his name in rumors anymore.