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Mets’ David Stearns reveals real reason Luis Robert Jr. wasn’t traded appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Mets completed a deadline selloff Monday but retained center fielder Luis Robert Jr. despite sustained trade speculation. President of baseball operations David Stearns later explained the decision during his post-deadline media availability.
The 29-year-old outfielder returned on July 20 after missing nearly three months with a lumbar spine disc herniation. He had played 24 games before landing on the injured list in April. Robert entered Monday batting .197 with four home runs, 12 RBIs, two stolen bases, and a .610 OPS across 122 at-bats.
The Mets hold a $20 million club option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout. That structure gives New York the remainder of this season to evaluate Robert before deciding whether to retain him for another year.
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MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo shared Stearns’ explanation on X, formerly Twitter, following Monday’s deadline.
“I think with Luis, it’s the possibility of what he can do for us in the second half, the understanding that there is a club option and the excitement of still having him here for the next two months of the season.”
The Mets explored a Robert trade, but no agreement materialized before the 6 p.m. ET cutoff. New York instead moved seven players during its deadline overhaul, including Clay Holmes, Tyrone Taylor, Freddy Peralta, Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, Huascar Brazoban, and A.J. Minter.
Those six trades brought 11 prospects into the organization and accelerated its shift toward 2027. Retaining Robert gives the Mets additional time to determine whether his power, speed, and defense can reemerge after an injury-disrupted season.
Stearns did not frame the decision as a long-term commitment. Instead, New York preserved two months of evaluation while maintaining control over Robert’s immediate future. His performance through September will help determine whether the Mets exercise the option or pay the buyout after the season. It preserves flexibility without guaranteeing Robert a 2027 roster spot.
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