The New York Mets are banking on a game-changer this season with the addition of center fielder Luis Robert. While acquiring him from the Chicago White Sox wasn't without cost, the deal was sweetened by Robert's recent struggles.
Yet, the Mets aren't necessarily counting on him to replicate his near 40-homer peak to make an impact. If he can find that form again, though, it would be a significant boost.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza recently shared his optimism about Robert's potential, saying the team might have struck gold with this move. The Mets took on Robert's $20 million salary and sent Luisangel Acuña and Truman Pauley to Chicago, betting on his upside.
“The tools are there -- elite power, the defense, the speed,” Mendoza said. “When he’s healthy, we saw in 2023 what he can do.
We’ve got to keep him healthy, and we’re going to be proactive. But as far as the ceiling and the potential?
He’s got a chance to do something special here.”
Robert's recent numbers include just 28 home runs, a 2.8 bWAR, and an OPS+ of 85 over the past two seasons. If he can bounce back to his career average OPS+ of 111, the Mets will have a solid anchor in center field, a position that’s been a bit of a revolving door for them.
Mendoza is hopeful that Robert can deliver a performance reminiscent of his standout 2023 season, where he hit 38 home runs, posted a 5.3 bWAR, and had an OPS+ of 130. We've seen players like Andrew Vaughn and Romy Gonzalez thrive after leaving the White Sox, and the Mets are hoping Robert will follow suit.