The Mets’ next move on Luis Robert Jr. is already taking shape, and it looks like a costly mistake is about to be closed out the hard way.
After failing to move Robert at the 2026 MLB trade deadline, New York is now staring at a decision on his $20 million 2027 club option. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the expectation is that the Mets will pass.
“The New York Mets made a $20 million blunder taking center fielder Luis Robert off the Chicago White Sox 's hands, but with another $20 million club option coming up, the Mets have learned their lesson,” Nightingale writes. “They won't be touching this option...”
That call would fit the season Robert has put together. In 45 games, he’s posted a .645 OPS, and the production has simply not come close to matching the price tag. At $20 million, the option is a tough sell under any normal circumstances; after this year, it’s almost impossible to justify.
The Mets acquired Robert from the White Sox last offseason, then tried to move him again this summer when they sold at the deadline. No one bit. Now, declining the option is the cleanest path left.
Robert’s resume still carries some weight. He was an All-Star and a 38-homer slugger, but the last few seasons have been rough, and he also missed significant time for the Mets this year. That’s a big part of why the club appears ready to move on rather than commit another $20 million.
If Robert hits free agency, a return to Queens on a cheaper deal isn’t impossible. Still, the more likely outcome is a one-year prove-it contract somewhere else as he tries to get back to the All-Star form he showed in 2023.
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