MLB teams already have their sights set on their targets, and with nearly 50 days to go before the July 31 trade deadline, they will need to refine their strategies to improve. Of course, the New York Mets do not escape this reality.
As much as they boast being the National League Division leaders, have owned the best record in the National League (42-24), and are relentless in the pursuit of excellence, the Mets have aspects to reevaluate. Or so Bradford Doolittle believes.
The ESPN writer published an article stating what all teams should do if they want to achieve better results before deadline day arrives. There, Doolittle asserts that the Mets need to fine-tune their center field, a position that has underperformed with an OPS of just .663 this season.
“When the Mets acquired Jose Siri during the offseason, it seemed likely that Siri was a stopgap solution while New York waited on some of its outfield prospects to mature” begins Bradford’s assessment.
However, that Tyrone Taylor has assumed full responsibility for center field “but he’s best suited for a complementary role” is not what the Mets are looking for. With Drew Gilbert struggling in Triple-A, Doolittle concludes that the arrival of Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox is the best option for the Mets: “Thus, center is an obvious position of need for New York, which seems like a great landing spot for Luis Robert Jr.”
Luis Robert Jr. comes to the Mets?
The truth is that despite his injuries and inconsistencies, the 27-year-old signed a six-year, $50 million contract with the White Sox in 2020. The rumors of his trade since then have not stopped talking, even with his unusual performance at the plate this season.
Although he currently has a somewhat disappointing .177/.265/.281 batting average with five home runs and 24 RBIs this season, during his previous 6 years with the White Sox they have been formidable. In fact, in the 2023 All-Star Game, he made his prowess more than clear: he hit .264 with 38 home runs and 20 stolen bases. This is just one of the reasons why Robert Jr. stands out on his own among center fielders.
But it’s also a clear reason why the New York Mets need to hurry up and evaluate whether they will follow Doolittle’s advice and make a decision before it’s too late.
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