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Evan & Tiki

Hour 1: Mets Swing Big for Luis Robert Jr., Bellinger Dominoes, and Giants Buzz Builds

Evan & Tiki

Audacy

Sports

4.2988 Ratings

🗓️ 21 January 2026

⏱️ 44 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Mets finally pull the trigger on the move they’ve been circling for what feels like forever, landing Luis Robert Jr. and immediately reshaping the conversation around their lineup. Evan, Tiki, and Shaun break down why the deal makes sense even with the obvious red flags: recent struggles, durability concerns, and the price tag. They debate the upside of a true change of scenery in New York, what Robert’s defense means for a team that badly needed real center field stability, and why this is a low risk swing with potentially massive reward. Plus, the ripple effect: where does this leave the Mets in the Cody Bellinger chase, and why Yankees fans might be feeling more confident today than they did yesterday as the staredown with Scott Boras continues. The hour also touches on growing buzz around the Giants, adding another major New York storyline to a packed opening segment.

Transcript

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0:00.0

I can never tell another show what to do, but I really enjoyed Boomer and Gio guessing what we would open with.

0:06.5

I almost think that should be like a new segment when they're not sure.

0:10.3

And I have to admit, I want to pivot because Boomer got it right.

0:14.2

And that is we start with a little baseball on this fine Wednesday because the Picasso painting that David Stearns was trying to paint when he lost Pete Alonzo and traded Brandon Nemo is coming into full circle now.

0:25.6

It's coming into clear picture.

0:27.4

As late last night, the New York Mets traded for Luis Robert Jr.

0:31.0

We get into the Mets aspect of things and also what this means for Cody Ballinger, who Yankee fans are waiting on, and we may get an announcement real soon.

0:40.0

So, first of all, as an IBO, as someone who repeatedly said to me, the White Sox aren't trading Luis Robert Jr.

0:47.1

In fact, let's hear.

0:48.2

Are you sure I said that?

0:50.1

They're keeping him.

0:51.6

Yeah, they're keeping him.

0:52.9

That's here. Hold on one more time.

0:55.5

To exercise his option. That's right. They're keeping him. They're keeping him. Hold on one more time. That's right.

1:12.8

They're keeping him. That's that's not. Tiki. No offense. What do you think of the Mets bringing in Luis Robert Jr.? I like it? Yes, because it's a move you had to make. You had to get defensively better. I think moving on from Luis and Hell Acuna, while a lot of people thought he was a prospect, as we said in our pre-show meeting. I'm the only, as Sean said, I'm the only small guy that hates on other small

1:17.3

guys. Because the reason I didn't think he would be a star, maybe at second base, he could have done so.

1:23.9

But as a centerfielder, he just felt small to me. And so moving on from him, while somewhat disappointing, I think, for MET fans who saw him as a prospect,

1:33.0

who could be a contributor for this team for a long time, I'm okay with that.

1:38.6

Louis Robert Jr. is more proven.

1:41.9

He gives you a center fielder who you can truly depend on on a day-to-day basis. And so it's a great move for the Mets. I just didn't think it would happen, but I'm glad for you. I'm happy that it happened for you all. It's a low-risk move. Yeah. Like Luis Robert Jr. has sucked for the last two years, and he also doesn't stay healthy. That's a fact. It's also playing for the White Sox. I agree. And I think there's a real chance. And I remember saying this a lot over the last year and a half, because this is one of those trades where it's been rumored for so long. So this is not the first time we're talking about Luis Robert Jr. I think he's got great change of scenery potential. You put him in a hardworking locker room with guys like Juan Soto and even Marcus Simeon, who's known as a hard worker. There's a chance Luis Robert Jr. He's just going to find himself in a better room. So I think there's a chance for a high reward. Two years ago, Luis Robert Jr. was an emerging All-Star. But I cannot lie about the fact that last year he was bad. The year before that, he was bad. And he's never healthy. Yeah, but the year before that, he was kind of great. Exactly. So he provides to you this high upside. But you hit on something else. They needed a center fielder. I mean, right now the Mets for weeks and months, as we've analyzed this team, had one real outfielder, one real starting outfielder in Juan Soto. And so they needed like a real Major League outfielder. He's a great defender. So even if he doesn't hit and he never goes back to the 23 forum, you know that he's a plus defender in center field. Right. And it's only money. Like, yes, Steve Cohn's going to pay him $20 million a year.

3:09.2

And is a guy worth $20 million a year if they hit $195 through June? No. But if Steve Cohn is willing to spend it, and certainly I'm willing to spend it because I'm a dopey season ticket holder, then the only risk you're really providing is financial. and if he could ever be 75% of the player he was in

3:26.7

2023, that's huge for the Mets. And it would also be a major upgrade over what they had in

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