NY Mets rumors: Alternative Luis Robert Jr. trade offers raise a new question

After-the-fact New York Mets rumors served by Jon Heyman of the NY Post reveal the timeline of how negotiations went with the Chicago White Sox for Luis Robert Jr. First, the White Sox asked for Brett Baty. The Mets refused. New York offered Mark Vientos. The White Sox rebuffed. Finally, Luisangel Acuna was the agreed upon headliner. The two clubs signed off.

It’s not fully new information as it was long-speculated that either Vientos or Acuna would get traded, in likelihood, to the White Sox for Robert. No trade made more sense.

Mets fans are largely in a state of “it wouldn’t really matter” as Vientos and Acuna were each coming into this year with a short leash. Acuna’s purpose would have been as a speedster off the bench while Vientos is proving he is only useful against left-handed pitchers in a primarily DH role. Both names officially mentioned in the Mets rumors, we have a new question to ask.

The question: Who will have the better career going forward, Mark Vientos or Luisangel Acuna?

Zero minor league options remaining and one player with an actual truly good year [Vientos], it’s about what’s next that’ll tell whether the White Sox made the correct selection or not. We don’t really put the responsibility on the Mets. Chicago refusing Vientos isn’t a bad thing with Acuna, who might be even less useful on the current iteration of the Mets, being as expendable.

Acuna was without a doubt the higher profile prospect. Vientos seemed to linger in the 5-10 range within the Mets system, never becoming a top 100 prospect. Acuna’s high was at 66 according to MLB Pipeline prior to the 2024 season.

Acuna has far greater tools. His speed and defensive abilities up the middle on the infield are valuable. Vientos is purely a power hitter you’d use only against left-handed pitchers if you can. But Acuna is also someone you don’t really want to use much against pitchers of either handedness. The White Sox are attempting to turn him into a center fielder right now. A pair of throwing errors on Tuesday night vindicated the Mets further by not making him an untouchable.

The two aren’t even all that far apart in age, Vientos turning 26 back in December and Acuna at 24 as of mid-March. The advantage of “future” lies with Acuna and yet it’s Vientos’ monster 2024 season which should have him as the kind of guy you can fool yourself into thinking can replicate a past performance.

Between the two choices, it’s definitely a matter of preference. Do you want a slugger who might hit .230 and be forced into the DH spot? Or do you take the light-hitting runner who can fill out your roster?

By now, Acuna should have shown more than he has. While Vientos had his breakout year as a 24-year-old in 2024, Acuna doesn’t seem on the verge of doing anything more than stealing bases, saving runs, and tormenting the occasional big leaguer who should be in Triple-A.

Frankly, neither seems bound for greatness. The better career moving forward? Acuna feels like a journeyman bench piece in the making. Vientos seems frustratingly useful on the right roster. Give me the guy who has done it, not the one who hasn’t.