Luis Robert Jr. arrived in New York in 2026 carrying a contract with six years of history behind it. The Cuban outfielder had signed an extension with the Chicago White Sox before ever playing a single big-league game — a $50 million deal that locked him in from the very start of his MLB career. That agreement is still paying out in New York, even as his performance has fallen short of the expectations he built in Chicago.
The Contract at a Glance
- Team (original): Chicago White Sox
- Signed: January 2, 2020
- Length: 6 years
- Seasons covered: 2020–2025, plus club options for 2026 and 2027
- Total guaranteed value: $50 million
- Average annual value: $8.33 million
How the Deal Is Structured
The original contract runs six years with a fully guaranteed value of $50 million, averaging $8.33 million per season. The key wrinkle is in the club options: the White Sox held a $20 million option for 2026, which they exercised before trading Robert Jr. to the Mets, and there’s another $20 million option on the table for 2027. That structure gave Chicago — and now New York — control over Robert Jr. well beyond the base years of the deal.
The agreement was signed on January 2, 2020, before Robert Jr. had set foot on a big-league diamond. It was an early bet on an international prospect who had generated serious buzz in scouting circles.
The Fine Print
Club options are the defining feature here. Unlike opt-outs — which give the player the power to walk — club options let the team holding the contract decide whether to continue. In this case, Chicago exercised the 2026 option before shipping Robert Jr. to New York, meaning the Mets inherited that cost. The base structure of the contract is 100% guaranteed, so Robert Jr. collects every dollar regardless of injury or performance.
Where He Ranks Among MLB’s Highest-Paid Players
Robert Jr. doesn’t crack the top tier of MLB salary lists. His $8.33 million average annual value puts him well outside the league’s biggest contracts. By today’s market standards it’s a middle-class deal — but in 2020, betting that kind of money on an international prospect before his debut was a meaningful commitment.
Before the Extension: His International Signing
- Team: Chicago White Sox
- Year: 2017
- Amount: $26 million (international signing bonus)
Robert Jr. started earning big-league money the moment he signed out of Cuba. In 2017, the White Sox paid $26 million to bring him aboard, a clear signal of how highly they valued his potential. Three years later, before he’d played a game in the majors, they doubled down with the $50 million extension.
Career Earnings
Adding up every contract he’s signed — international bonus plus the extension — Luis Robert Jr. has earned $76 million in guaranteed money over his professional career. That figure covers MLB salaries, signing bonuses, and collected bonuses. It does not include endorsements or any earnings from leagues outside the United States.
All of it is still paying out in New York, where Robert Jr. is hitting .213 in 2026 — a reminder that guaranteed contracts cut both ways.
