Luis Robert Jr. trade proved something to the NY Mets about Mark Vientos, others

Surely the reason the New York Mets and Chicago White Sox couldn’t come to terms on a trade for Luis Robert Jr. was because they wanted too much. In the summer, one of the rumors was the White Sox wanted Jonah Tong.

As it turned out, it didn’t cost much at all. Luisangel Acuna and Truman Pauley, a non-top prospect, were all the Mets gave up. They did take on Robert’s full $20 million contract for the coming year. This was probably another factor in the delay for what always felt like an inevitable transaction.

There’s a lesson to learn from it. Acuna and his poor 2025 season didn’t completely erase all of his trade value. He underperformed by a few miles in comparison to some of the other younger Mets players who could be on their last leg with the team. If anything, this tells the Mets they probably shouldn’t be in any rush to trade Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, or Ronny Mauricio. Someone else’s Robert might be obtainable for them.

If the Mets can use Luisangel Acuna as a headliner for Luis Robert Jr., their other young trade candidates will have value even if they struggle in 2026

It doesn’t feel as if the Mets are rushing to trade any of those three mentioned above. Baty is becoming their super utility guy and I believe they will keep him unless someone blows them away with an offer. What could they really get back for him that’ll make them much better at this point?

Vientos is a little different. There does seem to be room to move on from him. He’s kind of locked into an occasional corner infield showing with lots of at-bats as the DH. He is coming off of a bad year, but his huge year in 2024 should be fresh enough in the minds of other clubs to pay a higher price. If the White Sox wanted the speed and defense Acuna can provide, the power Vientos has shown regularly in the majors is an asset.

Mauricio is the most difficult to understand. Do the Mets want him to take as much time as possible to develop further? Bo Bichette is likely gone after one year, but Baty is a more proven option at third base. Mauricio is a candidate for some time at first base, possibly pushing Jorge Polanco into a more DH-exclusive role in year two of his contract.

In any case, there should be opportunities for the Mets to trade those guys even if they barely do a thing in 2026. Each is a way-too-early candidate to get swapped in another salary dump-style trade. Hypothetically, the Boston Red Sox could always pick up Willson Contreras’ club option for 2028 and trade him in the offseason for Vientos to save money and replace him with a younger player with greater upside even if he’s not coming off of a spectacular year.

It probably is a prove it or lose it type of year for Baty, Vientos, and Mauricio in varying degrees. It’s far from a mistake to keep them around rather than sell any for less than you value them.