Luis Robert Jr. is on the move. The Chicago White Sox traded the center fielder to the New York Mets for infielder Luisangel Acuña and minor-league right-handed pitcher Truman Pauley on Tuesday, a source confirmed to the Tribune. The trade became official later Tuesday. Robert’s name had been men tioned in trade speculation several times over the past couple of years. He remained with the team after last July’s trade deadline passed. In November, the Sox exercised his $20 million club option, but the buzz about a possible trade remained. And Tuesday, it became a reality. Acuña, 23, slashed .234/.293/.274 with seven doubles, eight RBIs, 30 runs and 16 stolen bases over 95 games with the Mets in 2025. He also appeared in 28 games with Triple-A Syracuse, slashing .303/.347/.385 with seven doubles, one triple, 10 RBIs, 16 runs and eight steals. Acuña — the younger brother of 2023 National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. — has a .248/.299/.341 slash line with nine doubles, one triple, three home runs, 14 RBIs, 36 runs and 16 stolen bases in 109 career games during parts of two seasons with the Mets. He’s made 41 career major-league starts at second base, 13 at shortstop and one at third base. Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a 2-run home run in the second inning of game one of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians at Rate Field in Chicago on July 11, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) He’s spent this offseason playing in his native Venezuelan Winter League. In 39 regular-season games for Cardenales de Lara, Acuña posted a .282/.397/.542 slash line with seven doubles, three triples, eight home runs (four in one game), 32 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. He’s played 23 games at shortstop and 17 in center field. Pauley, 22, had a 2.08 ERA and three strikeouts in three starts for Class A St. Lucie during his first professional season in 2025. The Mets selected Pauley in the 12th round of the 2025 draft out of Harvard. ESPN’s Jeff Passan initially reported the deal. Change is coming to the Sox outfield in 2026 after trading Robert, who slashed .259/.313/.455 with 115 doubles, two triples, 102 home runs, 298 RBIs, 318 runs and 102 stolen bases in 577 games during six seasons with the club. Robert, 28, played tremendous defense, earning a Gold Glove Award in 2020. All of his talents were on display in 2023 when he was named an American League All-Star while finishing with 38 home runs and 80 RBIs. But he’s been slowed at times by injuries. Robert has played at least 100 games in three of the five possible seasons (there were only 60 games in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season), with 110 in 2025 being the second-most in his career. Robert slashed .223/.297/.364 with 14 home runs, 53 RBIs, 52 runs and 33 stolen bases in 2025. His year came to an early end when he suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain on Aug. 26 against the Royals. When he returns to the field, it will be with the Mets. ...read more read less