5 NY Mets predictions for the remainder of the MLB offseason

January 24 - The Mets two pitching prospects for Luis Robert Jr.

The Chicago White Sox want pitching for Luis Robert Jr. and that’s precisely what the Mets will give them. The Mets take on the bulk of the $20 million contract, minimally lowering the price.

Suddenly the Mets outfield feels a lot fuller. Robert becomes the starting center fielder for the Mets and the long awaited question of who’ll be the solution there comes to a close. Of course, fans are outraged over the cost of two pitching prospects.

Pitching prospects R.J. Gordon and Joel Diaz go to Chicago in the deal. The White Sox come to the realization they aren’t going to get exactly what they want for Robert. The Mets understand they need to give in financially and offer up a nice duo for only one guaranteed year of Robert’s services.

It ends up being the kind of trade you love if you want Robert and hate if you didn’t. The Mets give up two good starting pitching prospects who aren’t necessarily at the top of anyone’s list of projected stars, but have some tools we don’t want to give up on for free.

Gordon was 6-1 with a 3.69 ERA in Double-A last year after a better performance in Single-A. Diaz, at 21, logged 106.2 innings in High-A and had a 3.80 ERA with a sturdy 2.1 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 rate. He seems to have fully recovered from the Tommy John surgery that wiped out his entire 2023 campaign.