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

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

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

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.

It's coming into clear picture.

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

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. So, first of all, as an IBO, as someone who repeatedly said to me, the White Sox aren't trading Luis Robert Jr. In fact, let's hear it real quick. Are you sure I said that? They're keeping him. Yeah, they're keeping him. That's here. Hold on one more time. To exercise his option.

That's right.

They're keeping him. That's that set. 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 show. moving on from Luis Anhele 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 guys.

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

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

Louis Robert Jr. is more proven.

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 them 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 centerfield. Right. And it's only money. Like, yes, Steve Cohn's going to pay him $20 million a year.

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

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

center field last year. The Mets production in Center Field last year was putrid. And let me just

put this in perspective for everyone who knows Luis Robert Jr.'s numbers how bad they are.

Those numbers are a significant upgrade over the garbage they got in center field last year.

They got nothing production-wise at a center field last year, whether it was Jose Ceri, Cedric Mullins, even Tyrone Taylor, who we like, and even Jeff McNeil who did it every once in a while.

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