The New York Mets and Luis Robert Jr. have seemingly been linked from the first day of the season.
Everyone could see the Mets needed a better centerfielder. And everyone thought they could see Robert was a guaranteed trade deadline move for the Chicago White Sox in another year on the outside of contention looking in.
But it isn't Robert heading out to roam the outfield at Citi Field.
Instead, the Mets got Cedric Mullins from the Baltimore Orioles, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Mullins is a solid player, a former All Star, someone who just made one of the best home run robberies of the season on Wednesday.
He isn't Robert, though.
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Robert is a five-tool, game-changing player. Mullins, at this point in his career, is a useful piece but not someone that feels like he can elevate his game to win a postseason series.
The Cuban star Robert has heated up lately, and it may have made the White Sox reconsider.
Chicago has a pair of club options up next on Robert's contract. If they activate them, Robert would be due $20 million in 2026 and the same amount in 2027.
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Given that, it might be prudent to hold him. The White Sox can see if Robert's value can move even higher, and that could either help them win more next season, or it can point toward a bigger return at next year's trade deadline.
The Mets just were seeking Robert at the wrong time, as it turns out. Maybe if a trade had gotten done a couple of months ago, it would've been a different story.
But it doesn't matter now. The Mets got Mullins, not Robert. Now they've just got to hope it works.
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