Mets reportedly 'desperate' to dump $20 million center fielder trade mistake

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Mets reportedly 'desperate' to dump $20 million center fielder trade mistake originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Mets are going to sell at the 2026 MLB trade deadline, and there are plenty of players who could be on the move by August 3.

While Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, A.J. Minter, and Brooks Raley feel like near-locks to be dealt, there are some other players who the Mets would likely be open to trading as well.

However, there is another player whom the Mets are "desperate" to dump this summer. According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, $20 million center fielder Luis Robert Jr. has been a total disaster and is someone the Mets want to trade this summer.

Mets 'desperate' to dump Luis Robert Jr. in a trade​

"The New York Mets, who made the brutal mistake of believing that center fielder Luis Robert would stay healthy, assuming his entire $20 million contract from the White Sox, now are desperate to dump him," Nightengale writes.

Robert just hasn't been good enough considering his lofty $20 million price tag. Add on that he's still owed $5.9 million with another $2 million buyout, and the Mets really want to cut ties with Robert this summer.

He has a .210 batting average, four home runs, and 0.2 bWAR in 100 at-bats this season with a .673 OPS and an 88 OPS+.

Robert isn't the All-Star, 38-homer slugger he was back in 2023 anymore. He's not nearly as good as he once was, and combined with his injury issues and his massive contract, the Mets would love to move on from him soon.

MORE: White Sox have strong interest in Mets’ Clay Holmes with scout attending rehab assignment

Robert will turn 29 years old on the day of the trade deadline, and it would not be a shocker if he were dealt on his birthday by the Mets to some other team.

While it's hard to imagine the Mets could get much of anything for him, with the lack of right-handed hitting outfield options available this summer, the Mets should find a contender willing to acquire Robert.

Mets fans should expect to see plenty of players leave the team in the next week or so, and while the nature of a deal might be a little more complicated, Robert is another player fans should expect to see on a new team by the trade deadline.

More MLB news:​

• Braves injury update on Spencer Strider has execs ‘pessimistic’ about a 2026 return
• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani injury update essentially ends Cy Young chances
• Yankees send scouts to Cubs vs. Twins series amid trade interest in three players
• Phillies ‘would love’ to trade for Mets reliever Luke Weaver
• MLB execs believe Padres will trade Mason Miller at trade deadline

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