Luis Robert Jr. gets update on his Mets future ahead of Nationals series finale

The New York Mets’ roster overhaul during the 2025 offseason has not gone to plan. As of Aug. 16, they are 55-69 and last place in the National League East. They are 18 ½ games out of first, as well as 11 games back of the last Wild Card spot. This development has been due to a variety of reasons, mainly injuries and simple player underperformance. A player that exemplifies this would be center fielder Luis Robert Jr. The Mets acquired his services in an offseason trade with the Chicago White Sox. They exchanged infielder Luisangel Acuña for Robert.  MORE: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s MVP chances take a hit after update on Shohei Ohtani The trade impact Aug 12, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) hits a home run against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters) The trade has been a loss for both teams. Acuña has been a bench piece for Chicago, compiling a .542 OPS. His value is in speed and defense, though even the defense has not been as good as advertised. Robert, known for his injury history with the White Sox, has continued that trend with the Mets. He has played only 45 games this year due to a spine problem, slashing .216/.292/.353 (.645 OPS) with six home runs and 17 RBIs. Robert carries a $20 million 2026 salary with him, which is what has made this trade a complete loss for New York. Bob Nightengale of USA Today said in a recent article that the Mets will not even think about picking up his 2027 team option for the same dollar amount. New York’s future outfield In Robert’s absence, the club has gotten a good contribution from rookie outfielder A.J. Ewing in center field. Since his debut in May, Ewing has provided the statistics and availability to make the Robert decision an easy one for the Mets. Another rookie outfielder that has been playing well would be right fielder Carson Benge. Called up shortly before Opening Day, he has played in 118 of the team’s 124 games. The team will have Ewing (.705 OPS, two outs above average in center) and Benge (.757 OPS, -2 outs above average in right) for the foreseeable future. They will of course have superstar Juan Soto in left as well, making for one of MLB’s better outfields. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —