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The New York Mets are off to a division-best start in 2025 but, as always, injuries could inform a busy trade deadline.
The team is looking to build on its run all the way to the National League Championship Series last year, and the addition of Juan Soto has made World Series aspirations clear. But the team has lost the likes of Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Francisco Alvarez and Jeff McNeil to injuries.
And now the Mets have gotten some bad news in the latest injury update on offseason trade addition Jose Siri. On Monday, president of baseball operations David Stearns told reporters that Siri would be out for eight to 10 weeks. The team has turned to Tyrone Taylor in the meantime, without much offensive success, and could be looking for a more permanent upgrade in the center field spot at the trade deadline.
That’s a large reason why Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report has identified the Mets as the “ideal landing spot” for likely trade candidate Luis Robert Jr.
“Between Pete Alonso having a sensational start to his second contract year and the starting rotation drastically exceeding expectations, the Mets are in great shape in first place in the NL East, one game back for the best record in the majors,” Miller wrote. “However, there’s little question that New York’s centerfield situation is a hot mess.”
Siri was slashing just .050/.208/.100 in 20 at-bats before his injury and Taylor has slashed .204/.232/.296 in his absence. Meanwhile, Robert isn’t off to a much better start, with a .154/.282/.262 slash line, but he’s looking to bounce back to the 38-homer All-Star form he flashed in 2023.
If he does start to assemble that kind of rebound, Robert will be a hotly-sought trade chip at the deadline as the Chicago White Sox look to rebuild around some more controllable talent. Robert is in his final year of a six-year, $50 million extension with the White Sox that includes a pair of $20 million club options for 2026 and 2027.
That would be a good deal for a slugging, base-stealing center fielder on a contending team. If Robert gives the Mets reason to believe he is that guy, Queens makes a lot of sense as his landing spot.
“Adding Robert to the mix could be the final piece of the pizzle this year, and they may well want to bring him back again next year on that club option,” Miller added.
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Peter Chawaga is a veteran journalist covering Major League Baseball for The Sporting News. His MLB reporting has included feature interviews with commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame slugger David Ortiz, salary analysis, player rankings and more. He has covered baseball for Forbes, Yardbarker, Pitcher List, Athlon and other outlets.
With over ten years of newsroom experience, he has previously covered finance, technology, arts, and culture for newspapers, magazines, and websites nationwide. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in English and journalism.
English (US)