After Byron Buxton made clear he was a “Twin for life,” the Mets then missed on Robert as they and the White Sox never got close (The Padres and Phillies didn’t either, acquiring Ramón Laureano and Harrison Bader instead). The Mets apparently didn’t want to give up either Mark Vientos of Luisangel Acuña as part of packages, or part with 3B/OF Jacob Reimer or 2B/OF A.J. Ewing, either, since they viewed Robert as a rental (The Chisox, meantime, will consider picking up Robert’s $20 million option).
Fine fallback option Cedric Mullins is better than his surprisingly mundane defensive analytics (plus two OAA, via Baseballsavant.com). “I never understood why the defensive metrics didn’t like him. I can’t remember a ball dropping that I felt should have been caught,” longtime Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told The Post.
The Mets, Phillies, Padres, hometown Braves and others sought the ultra-talented Buxton — who, unlike teammate Carlos Correa, wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause.
The Marlins understandably wanted either Spencer Jones or Miami product George Lombard Jr. from the Yankees. The Red Sox and Cubs ultimately came closest, but no one was especially close for the two controllable star starters.