A realistic NY Mets-Orioles trade for Luis Robert Jr.

Rising Apple · Jul 20, 2026 23:00 · 3 min read

A realistic NY Mets-Orioles trade for Luis Robert Jr. — Apr 23, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) hits an RBI double during the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

A realistic New York Mets-Baltimore Orioles trade for Luis Robert Jr.

The New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles made two completely separate trade deadline deals in 2025. First came Gregory Soto. As time wound down closer to the MLB trade deadline, they acquired Cedric Mullins.

Five total Mets prospects were sent to the O’s and some have already made it to the majors with varying results. The Athletic took note of how needy the Orioles are for a center fielder or really any outfield help at all. Two games out of a AL Wild Card spot at the start of the day on Monday July 20, they’re a team that could buy if they stay hot.

This brings us to the Mets who have a center fielder they could trade to Baltimore. Luis Robert Jr. is a low-key trade candidate who’ll need to prove over the next two weeks he is 1) healthy and 2) worth trading for. It cost the Mets only Luisangel Acuna and unranked prospect Truman Pauley to acquire him in the offseason in what was mostly a salary dump deal. More than half of the $20 million now gone, the Mets can’t possibly expect to get a whole lot for Robert. The Athletic mentioned the Orioles as one potential destination for Robert. This trade feels like a realistic one to happen.

Why this trade makes sense for the Mets and Orioles

The Mets should get anything they can for Robert and this is probably one of the best offers. So, who is Patrick Reilly?

MLB Pipeline has him ranked as the 24th best Orioles prospect. A 24-year-old right-handed pitcher who has been on the IL for a good chunk of the year, he has recently begun a rehab assignment in the lower minor leagues.

From Long Branch, NJ, Reilly was a fifth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2023. He was traded in 2024 for outfielder Billy Cook. Reilly hasn’t pitched much professionally in the last two seasons. However, in 41 Double-A innings, he has a 3.29 ERA and 10.1 K/9 rate. He’s very much in the style of the types of players the Mets seem to target. The fact that he has fallen due to injury seems to mesh with the strategy of trying to take on young players whose biggest problem hasn’t been ability but availability.

Reilly was ranked as high as 10th by MLB Pipeline in the Orioles system in 2025. The fact that both he and Robert have been held back by injury seems to make this a fit for both organizations. The trickiest part is agreeing on who picks up the bill. For the Mets, it might take another player, even a throw-in they like, to get them to agree to pay any money. They also have to realize that Robert’s market will be limited. You don’t give assets up for someone you aren’t sure will play even half the games he’s employed for.