While the Atlanta Braves' offseason hit a pretty significant setback after Ha-Seong Kim's injury, the team's work overall this winter has largely gone very well. That stands in stark opposition to what has happened to the Mets and their dumpster fire of an offseason. Had the Mets not signed Bo Bichette recently, we all could have witnessed an implosion for the ages especially after New York decided to trade for Luis Robert Jr.
Now, ignoring for the moment that what the Mets really need is rotation help and they have done next to nothing to address that, there is a chance that Robert Jr. turns back into the player he was when he first got to the majors. If New York ends up getting a player who gives them an .850+ OPS and 30+ homers, they will end up thrilled with the deal.
However, after a close look at the details of the Robert Jr. trade, it looks like the Mets paid far too much to acquire him especially when you consider the player he has been in recent years.
Mets needlessly taking on the risk that is Luis Robert Jr. should have Braves fans ecstatic at another New York blunder
Now, the focus here isn't going to be on the players the Mets gave up in the trade, because that is not really the egregious part. Luisangel Acuña was one of New York's top prospects at one point, but it has become pretty clear that he is just a light-hitting, speedy infielder with limited upside. It is possible that Acuña pops off with the White Sox, but history suggests that he will rot in Chicago like so many others have. Truman Pauley is an interesting arm, but one that doesn't really move the needle much.
Where things get wild is that the White Sox got that return for Robert Jr. and they don't have to pay any of his salary. Robert Jr. is owed $20 million for 2026 and has a club option for the same amount (that includes a $2 million buyout) for 2027. The Mets are on the hook for all of that thanks to taking in a guy that has averaged a .223/.288/.372 line the last two years and who has only been healthy enough to play more than 110 games in a season once in his six seasons in MLB.
Some will say that the Mets' spending doesn't matter to them because owner Steve Cohen's resources are seemingly endless. However, if you are going to have a rival with infinite money, it is better to have one like the Mets who don't seem to have any idea how to leverage that advantage unlike the Dodgers who both have Scrooge McDuck money and the smarts to use it well.