Steve Cohen’s money is not only an asset going to the top of the market to, say, steal Bo Bichette away from the Phillies at the 11th-hour. But also to take a gamble. And I would argue a real worthwhile gamble on Luis Robert Jr.
The Mets on Tuesday night — hours after the best center fielder in their history, Carlos Beltrán, was elected to the Hall of Fame — finalized a trade to acquire Robert from the White Sox to try to solve center field, giving up Luisangel Acuña and pitching prospect Truman Pauley.
The trade works for a team with the money to try because even the downside of Robert should provide excellent defense, stolen bases, a strong performance against lefty pitching and some power. If the Mets got nothing but that, it would improve their center field situation markedly and be an up-the-middle boost to David Stearns’ call for “run prevention.”
And as recently as 2023, Robert was one of the majors’ best players, finishing with 5.3 Wins Above Replacement (Baseball Reference) and 12th for AL MVP. He is just 28, so seemingly in his prime. He will be coming to a team that he is not expected to carry like the woeful White Sox, but as more of a complementary player. So there is not a zero percent chance that the Mets could get some impact here from a player who hit 38 homers in 2023 and has a career 81 percent steal success rate (102 out of 126).
