White Sox will give Luisangel Acuna long runway after dealing center fielder Luis Robert Jr.

General manager Chris Getz was effusive in his praise of new 23-year-old White Sox outfielder Luisangel Acuna, who along with right-hander Truman Pauley was acquired on Tuesday in the deal that sent center fielder Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets. He lauded Acuna for his defense and baserunning ability.

But for as much as the Sox wanted to get Acuna, the younger brother of Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr., into the organization, the trade was also about finally closing the chapter on the previous rebuild. Robert signed with the Sox with immense hype. His talent was tantalizing, flashing occasionally before he put it all together in 2023, when he made his only All-Star team and belted 38 homers while playing Gold Glove defense.

“I know over in New York, talking to individuals over there, they did not want to get rid of [Acuna],” Getz said this week on Zoom. “That's because of how valuable he can be with a team. To get a chance at bringing in a player like that and gain some more flexibility with moving Luis seemed like something we needed to strike on, and we went ahead and did that."

Getz said that though the Sox did receive some financial relief with the Mets absorbing the entirety of Robert’s $20 million contract, that was just an added benefit. They were all-in on acquiring Acuna.

“We've been tracking him for a long time,” Getz said Wednesday. “When you're assessing a player, you go through your scouting process, your analytic process and you come to a decision. I know over in New York, talking to individuals over there, they did not want to get rid of him, I know that. That's because of how valuable he can be with a team.”

Turning to 2026, the Sox are short on established outfield talent. On the 40-man, the team is rostering veteran Derek Hill, Tristan Peters and Everson Pereira. Former top prospect Jarred Kelenic was invited to spring training.

With Robert’s $20 million contract off the books — though the Sox’ projected payroll was already among the lowest in the majors — the Sox have some wiggle room to add players in free agency. Though Getz said that the team could use the payroll flexibility at addressing other positions.

The free agency options aren’t too enticing at this point in the offseason. Harrison Bader is available after hitting 17 homers with a .796 OPS, but would he want to go to an organization coming off three consecutive losing seasons after playing in October with the Phillies? It’s unlikely. Underwhelming veteran options — Mike Tauchman, Miguel Andujar and Austin Hays — are still lingering on the market.

But the Sox are committed to giving Acuna a runway to work things out. It’s a luxury that the 23-year-old wasn’t afforded in New York. Acuna slashed .234/.293/.274 with seven doubles and eight RBIs over 95 games with the Mets.

“The thing that excites me the most is I will have the opportunity to keep growing and developing as a baseball player,” Acuna said. “But besides that, the most important thing for me is just to help the team in whatever capacity they need me to, and I’m open for whatever they ask me.”

He’s played 17 games in center field in the Venezuelan Winter League after mostly playing second base in the majors. Acuna is also batting .282/.397/.542 and became the first player to hit four homers in a Venezuelan Winter League game. Towards the end of his New York tenure, Acuna was working on lifting the ball in the air more and ridding himself of his ground-ball tendencies.

“He’s been able to take that into Winter League in Venezuela,” Getz said. “That’s not always automatic [that] it’s going to translate. We have to acknowledge that. There are some indicators he is headed in the right direction, and once again, you put that on top of the fact that he’s going to come to a club where we can give him consistent at-bats to test and get early feedback on those adjustments.”

But Robert’s departure allows Getz to focus on the players that he hopes will be here when the Sox return to contending for postseason spots. Acuna is one of the players the organization is betting on going forward.

“If we can increase his offensive skill set, we have a guy who can [get] two wins [of WAR] or more,” Getz said.