Tag Archives: Luisangel Acuna

January 21, 2026

Robert to the Mets

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The Mets completed a deal with the White Sox in which New York received outfielder Luis Robert for infielder Luisangel Acuna and pitcher Truman Pauley. Robert will earn $20 million this season that the Mets will pay:

Robert has shown flashes of playing at a level commensurate with that salary. In 2023, he was among the most dynamic players in baseball, hitting 38 home runs and stealing 20 bases. He struggled to hit the past two seasons, though, batting a combined .223/.288/.372 with 28 home runs, 88 RBIs and 56 stolen bases in 856 plate appearances.

Given his age, talent and position, Robert lined up as a strong fit for a Mets team starting to take shape.

ESPN.com

Robert peaked at seasonal age 23 in terms of averages with a .338/.378/.567 slash line in 296 PA. His OBP dropped to .319 the next season and came in below .300 the last two years. He did hit for power in 2023 at seasonal age 25, but that disappeared the last two seasons as well.

Thirty years ago I would have thought Roberts lied about his age. Since 9/11, that has become much more difficult. His career makes more sense if he’s three or four years older than his stated age. The more likely reason is that pitchers adjusted to Robert’s strengths, and then injuries sapped his power. Maybe the Mets can rebuild him.

The Mets give up Acuna, who at this point does not appear to be the second coming of his brother. He struggled getting on base above AA, but he is someone the White Sox can control for a long time and his defense is a positive. Pauley is a Harvard guy, so he must be good! In fact, he walks a ton of batters to go with a ton of strikeouts. In 4 1/3 innings of professional ball, he walked four and struck out three, but has yet to allow a hit.

September 18, 2024 July 30, 2023

Scherzer and Cash for Acuna

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The Mets and Rangers completed the deal for Max Scherzer, sending the pitcher to Texas for top prospect Luisangel Acuna, younger brother of Ronald Acuna Jr. The Mets also included $35.7 million of Scherzer’s salary, and the pitcher agreed not to opt out of his contract.

Michael Bauman at FanGraphs posted an excellent write up of the deal. Basically, Scherzer is no longer an ace but is still very good, and Acuna likely helps the Mets next year. I do want to note this:

The big problem for Scherzer this year has been the home run ball; he’s allowed 1.92 HR/9, the third-highest mark among qualified starters. He’s getting dingered on more than twice as frequently as he did in 2022, and is allowing 0.72 more home runs per nine innings than the league average. You don’t need to be Bill James to figure out what kind of effect that’s had on his season.

FanGraphs.com

Of his three-true outcomes, Sherzer’s home run rate would be the weak spot. In general, that’s okay for a low walk, high strikeout pitcher. So few batters get on base against him that home runs do little damage. For his career, Scherzer allowed 206 home runs with the bases empty, 117 with men on base.

One reason the Rangers want Scherzer is for the playoffs. One needs to be careful with this type of pitcher in the playoffs, especially if the opposing pitchers are also really good. In a close pitching duel, the pitcher who gives up the home run more readily can pitch well but get in trouble. The classic example of this is game seven of the 2001 World Series. Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling both pitched brilliantly, the difference being Schilling allowing a home run to give New York a 2-1 lead. Schilling pitched a bit better than Clemens in that game, but the long ball nearly cost the Diamondbacks a world championship.

In the post season, Scherzer allowed ten home runs with the bases empty, eight with men on. It’s a reason he’s not lights out in the playoffs.