Luis Robert Jr. anticipated his tenure with the New York Mets would continue beyond the trade deadline, a sentiment that materialized as the team kept him. The veteran outfielder had been informed by his representatives that a trade was a possibility, but his performance in the games leading up to the deadline suggested otherwise.
"After the week I had at home, I knew it would be difficult to make a trade there," Robert said through an interpreter before the Mets faced the Guardians. "Obviously there is always a possibility, but I thought it would be difficult to pull off a trade at that point."
Robert's pre-deadline assessment stemmed from his performance during a homestand that began July 20, after an extended stint on the injured list. In that period, he hit .185, going 5-for-27 at the plate, which caused his OPS to drop from .642 to .610. This offensive slump appeared to diminish his trade value, leading to his expectation that a deal would be difficult to complete.