Luis Robert Jr., despite a rough season with a .628 OPS and a lengthy two-month stint on the injured list for a spine issue, is already garnering preliminary trade interest from multiple teams. This is a genuinely unexpected, but super welcome, development for the New York Mets as they hurtle toward the August 3, 2026, MLB trade deadline as clear sellers. Can you believe it?
The Surprise Player Generating Early Buzz
Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. just returned to the field Monday after missing over two months, but according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, teams are already making calls about him. This dude is 28 years old, and he’s been struggling big time, rocking a 77 OPS+ in 89 at-bats this season. Most teams would look at that kind of production and contract and probably just move on. But for the Mets, who really didn’t want to be sellers but have no other real course of action at the deadline, getting *any* interest in Robert is a huge win. They are owed $5.9 million for the rest of 2026 after the deadline, and then there’s a $20 million club option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout. That buyout could complicate things, but if David Stearns and Steve Cohen are willing to pay it down, they might see some serious offers come in.
Why Teams Are Still Calling About That .628 OPS
So, why the interest in a struggling outfielder with a tough contract? It boils down to one thing: scarcity. Right-handed hitting outfielders are seriously hard to find this summer. Robert Jr. might actually be the best righty-hitting outfielder available for trade, or at least one of the highest-upside outfielders who could be on the move. That gives the Mets a real chance to trade him, even if the return isn’t a blockbuster. Honestly, anything they get in exchange for Robert would be a win, especially with his recent struggles making that $20 million option in 2027 look way too high.
Mets are Open for Business!
Robert Jr. isn’t the only name on the Mets’ trade block, though. As sellers, they are sure to field plenty of trade interest in Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, Luke Weaver, Francisco Alvarez, A.J. Minter, and Brooks Raley. The White Sox even have strong interest in Clay Holmes, with a scout already attending his rehab assignment. While it’s still TBD if the interest in Robert Jr. will lead to an actual deal, it’s a fantastic starting point for the Mets as they gear up to offload talent. With the August 3 deadline looming, getting some movement on a player like Robert Jr. this early on July 22, 2026, shows they might just pull off some surprising deals.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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