The New York Mets are moving on from Luis Robert Jr. even as he returns to his old home. The 29-year-old outfielder is currently a “spare part” in a lineup that looks toward a different future. While he still has talent, the team is focused on young players and established stars like Juan Soto.
The Mets lost 6-4 to the White Sox at Rate Field on August 21, 2026. The game ended on a walk-off home run by Jake Rogers. It was a rough night for New York pitching. Sean Manaea surrendered three straight home runs in the sixth inning. The loss left the Mets at 58-70. They sat 10 games back in the race for the final wild-card spot in the NL.
A change in the Mets outfield
The roster in Queens is changing. Before the August 3 deadline, the Mets attempted to trade Robert but failed to secure an agreement. Now, he is playing while Juan Soto recovers from a calf strain. The team has a massive $765 million contract tied to Soto. According to reports, the Mets are also looking at rookies like A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge as part of their future.
The future for the Mets outfield looks bright, according to reports. He noted that the young players have a “really bright future, who are really impactful.” He also said that Soto is a veteran who “is going to be here for a while.” It is hard to see Robert staying long-term. For the upcoming year, the squad probably will not exercise its $20 million option regarding him.
Robert’s return to Chicago
Returning to Chicago brought up old memories for the outfielder. “This is a team that will always have a special place in my heart,” Robert said through an interpreter. He played his first six years in the big leagues with the White Sox. He even tracks how they do. “I keep tabs of the results of the games, and I am really proud to see how they are performing this season,” Robert said.
But his recent years have been tough. Robert dealt with a lumbar disc herniation that kept him out for nearly three months this year. He did not rejoin the lineup until July 20. He entered this stretch of games with a low .652 OPS. He admitted that this year felt like other times when he was sidelined. “This season has been pretty similar to how other parts of my career have gone, where I have been hurt, where I have been off the field,” Robert said.
A meltdown at Rate Field
The game itself was a disaster for the Mets’ staff. Jefry Yan had a wild moment in the ninth inning. He thought he had a strikeout to end the play and started a celebration dance. However, the umpire called the pitch a ball. White Sox manager Andy Green said, “Jefry will learn not to jump before the play is over.” He added that the pitcher was still working through those emotions.
The Mets could not stop the bleeding. Manaea also struggled after a strong period. He told reporters he was throwing more sweepers than he was earlier. He also noted that he was trying to get the ball up, but two of them went out for home runs. He said, “Ultimately, fastball home runs on two of them, getting them down — I was trying to get them up — but I think earlier in the game I felt like I was doing a better job of getting the ball up.”
