White Sox star center fielder Luis Robert has been cleared to begin a minor league rehab assignment, the team announced. He’ll be assigned to High-A Winston-Salem and begin play on Wednesday. Robert has been out since early May after suffering a Grade 3 strain of his right hip flexor tendon.
Rehabbing position players can spend up to twenty days in the minors, so Robert’s in line to return to the major league club by the second week of August barring any sort of setback. He’ll follow shortly after left fielder Eloy Jiménez, who began a rehab assignment of his own a little more than a week ago.
At the time of his injury, it wasn’t clear whether Robert would be able to return at all this season. Not only is he line to do so, he’s returning to game action after about two and a half months. That’s a surprisingly welcome development after the initial prognosis suggested he’d need three to four months before even beginning baseball activities.
One of the game’s best defensive outfielders, Robert got off to a hot start at the plate before going down. Across 103 plate appearances, he’s hitting .316/.359/.463, a step up from the average offensive production he posted last year.
When Robert and Jiménez went down, outfield looked like a natural potential area for an upgrade. Chicago has coasted to a 7.5 game lead in the AL Central largely without that duo, though, and their impending returns lessen the need for GM Rick Hahn and the front office to explore that market before the July 30 trade deadline.
Setbacks from Robert and/or Jiménez could obviously change that, but the outfield no longer looks like a problem area for the South Siders. Indeed, the front office is expected to prioritize finding bullpen help over the next couple weeks, writes Bruce Levine of 670 the Score. On the position player side, Levine notes that the organization’s bigger concerns are now second base and catcher, where Nick Madrigal and Yasmani Grandal have gone down with respective injuries of their own.
Lou Bob on the mend! <3
LouBob is terrible. What are we a bunch of hillbillies?
@cubsnomore
Agree. Robert isn’t that difficult to type. In fact, it takes the same number of keystrokes for Robert and LouBob.
LOL the hillbillies remark cracked me up pretty hard!
I’ll class it up a bit and pronounce his name “luis row-bear”
This is fantastic news!
Our farm system isn’t very deep but we should be able to put a package together for Adam Frazier. Could be an exciting October on the South Side!
The farm system is Berger, Sheets, Mendick, Crochet and others are filling in for injuries… to complain about the farm system is short sited. They have Eloy, LouBob, Engel, Vaughn, Goodwin, Hamilton and Garcia who can all play in the OF, they don’t need to acquire anything there…
I’d prefer dealing Reynaldo Lopez for a backup Catcher or utility IF to backup Anderson –
I’m not complaining about the farm system. I said we should acquire Frazier and you must not realize he primarily plays second base. He would also be outfield/infield insurance for next year.
Lopez is very close to joining Eaton as DFA. You’re not getting a bucket of baseballs for him.
Lopez isn’t tradable right now. Plus, he might be useful right now in the pen. And if he regresses again in the next few weeks, then cut him.
The good thing with Sheets and Burger is they both are bolstering their trade value so far. Sheets and a few minor leaguers could get the deal done for Frazier. A forgotten guy the Sox could pair with Sheets to help the deal is Yermin. It’s a small sample size (13 games), but Yermin has 4 HR and 1.072 OPS in AAA. And he has a ton of team control left. Though I wouldn’t mind seeing what Yermin can do if given another chance in Chicago. Just a thought.
Lopez 1.80 ERA!!
Lopez and Mendick for Frazier.
Watched Frazier play a lot this season. He’s an on base demon. The positional range doesn’t hurt. He’s a winner. Incredibly intelligent at bats. He’d be scary up in the 1-2 slot for the Sox with those bats behind him. Completely hiding in Pittsburgh…but not enough to avoid being the NL AS Game 2B.
Yermin is a DH which limits where he can be traded to. He has no future in Chicago; he never really did.
Thank GOD! Let’s go Sox!
Good. The game is better when he is healthy. Eloy hitting good on his rehab too.
You’re calling him a star? Then follow that up with how it’s only been 100 AB this year and he was avg last year.
Doesn’t make sense to me
Calm down Nancy.
He was a Gold Glove winner…. Certainly better than average
Average offensive production + gold glove caliber defense at a premium defensive position = star.
Average offensive production + untapped potential over a small sample size+ gold glove defense
Last year, he had a 162-game pace of 5.2WAR. This year, the same. That’s All-Star territory. Small sample size still applies, but he’s done all of this without working out the holes in his swing or dialing into his raw power regularly. There’s a lot of potential left untapped still.
He was average because of his September. He was the RoY until that brutal slump. Short sighted is looking numbers with zero context
The injuries have been a bummer, but the silver lining is the big league experience we’ve been able to give a bunch of our younger players. Glad to see Luis back though, hope to see him improve as a hitter.
He had a 128 OPS+ when he went down vs 100 last year. So he seems to have made some adjustments after that horrible September.
This is some good news, just hoping they’re not rushing him
@MWSAD That was my thought, hoping they are not rushing him. But I assume their training staff is more than aware of that, and must think he’s progressed and ready to go. This is great news… I did not think Robert would be playing in rehab games much before August.
It is too much to expect Eloy and Robert to be great or in full swing when they come back, but they are both coming back with plenty of time left in the season, enough that they should be pretty good to go for the postseason if both are healthy. Hopefully.
This will be huge, but they need a bullpen arm and 2b ASAP.
And spare me how good Mendick and Garcia look, or worry over mediocre prospects. They are ready to win this year. Lou Bob and Eloy aren’t enough help.
@maximumvelocity, who would you like for the WhiteSox to target and at what cost?
Adam Frazier. Would Pitt go straight up for Gavin Sheets? Idk? Or maybe start with Jonathan Stiever?
No, it’s going to be more than that. Sheets and Stiever and then add Kelley and Adolfo.
That trade would be a complete fiasco.
With Jimenez and Robert on the way back, just go get Escobar! Unless AZ is holding out for something unrealistic, he shouldn’t cost that much.
Sheets just hit walk off bomb off Berrios!!! I like Frazier over Escobar but yeah depending on what it will cost Escobar might be the better choice.
So if and when Eloy & Luis come up who’s getting demoted or DFA’d? I’d say put Burger down to get regular playing time & demote Mendick if we trade for a 2b and/or DFA Goodwin.
I’d prefer Escobar to Frazier. I’m not sure that the impact of a power bat is not more what they need anyway. But mainly because of cost, and the fact that Frazier would have no position next year, and would be an awful choice for RF. This is a career year for him, his career OPS is exactly the same as… Adam Eaton. That’s a plus for a 2b, but not good enough for RF. I don’t want them to have any excuses for not being in on someone like Starling Marte in the offseason. That’s a RF that would make this team unbelievable.
Frazier is the better player this year but the difference compared to Escobar is not worth paying a huge price. I say keep Burger and Sheets unless they get a great reliever, and get Escobar for what should be a reasonable cost.
Preferring Escobar over Frazier is like getting a steak well done…
Why spend $50 on the filet mignon when the $15 burger is pretty darn good?
There’s not many hamburgers worth $15.
I get the love for Burger and Sheets, but they can’t keep all of these DH/1B types who are blocked from playing in the first place when everyone is healthy.
It makes sense to trade them now, when the team is on the brink of a title, and when they are at high value.
Sheets could be a stud, but he could also be another Nicky D. If you can solve a problem by trading him for a Frazier or Kimbral, you do it.
Sheets looking like an aged ribeye
I’d DFA Lamb instead of Goodwin, but either one is fine with me. If the Sox get a 2B upgrade, I send Mendick down; if not, I send Burger down. I want to keep Sheets up and give him an extended look because he may be a long-term solution, while neither Goodwin nor Lamb are.
40 man roster is at 39, so they don’t just need to send someone down when Jimenez and Robert get healthy, they need to release or get waivers on somebody..
That’s probably going to be Lamb, Goodwin, or Hamilton. Less likely Lopez or a reliever just because you can never have too many pitchers and all those guys are some combination of young, cheap, and have upside. My guess is Goodwin or Hamilton since they can’t be sent down and they will have Vaughn, Robert, Engel, Sheets, and Jimenez which is already 5 outfielders. Even if they admit that Jimenez is only a DH, there is no room for both Goodwin and Hamilton. Goodwin is the better all around player of the two, but Hamilton might be more useful in a playoff series as a defensive sub for Vaughn/Sheets/Jimenez or to pinch run late in a game. Since they are almost certain to make the playoffs, I bet they keep Hamilton and DFA Goodwin.
When Lamb comes back, Burger probably gets sent back down since Lamb gives them more positional flexibility. Mendick’s spot is probably safe unless he hits even worse, Burger forces them to keep him in Chicago for his bat, or they trade for a real second baseman. The last one is Mendick’s biggest threat.
I agree. Lamb has not produced, Goodwin has. Hamilton went from a man no one wanted to absolute late inning specialist gold with TLR at the helm. He’s there for the rest of the season. Hopefully a championship one.
I’m fine with any player that can come in and play competent defense and give you an OPS+ over 100. That could be Frazier. Escobar. Or even Josh Harrison if Nats start to sell.
I WOULD trade Sheets for Frazier, because I don’t think Sheets will be anything more than a platoon bat who can fake it in the outfield, just like his father was.
Plus, They can’t keep all of Sheets, Vaughn, Eloy, Burger, Mercedes and Abreu. If they can get Frazier for Sheets and two Top 25 A ball prospects, I’m making the move. If it’s Frazier for Sheets, Adolfo and Stiever, I’m not thinking twice about that trade.
@maximumvelocity
Absolutely. As long as he’s an upgrade to Leury/Mendick (which is a pretty easy task), make the deal and get that 2B.
Sheets is a nice player for a rebuilding team, but most likely a 4th OF on a contender. And the Sox already have the ideal 4th OF in Engel. It would be nice to have Sheets around for OF depth in the future, but if he makes a good trade piece, that’s the route to go.
And I agree on your other statement, they need to get help in the pen.
I’d rather trade Sheets for Richard Rodriguez than Frazier. Frazier has a very high BABIP this year that points to regression. Then next year, they’d have to play him out of his normal position. It’s an overpay for a guy who will likely go downhill. Plus, I view righty reliever as a bigger need.
Mercedes has no value for the Sox. Never really did.
I agree that Rodriguez should be amongst the targets for White Sox, but Sheets seems like an overpay. What can Ian Kennedy be had for? If you’re moving your chips then go for Kimbrell or Gallo or Story or something bigger…
Story’s not bigger. He’s having an absolutely terrible year despite playing half his games in Denver. Don’t know what’s wrong with him, but don’t want him to come to the South Side with those numbers.
Kennedy’s interesting. I could see the Sox going after him for a bit less. Part of Rodriguez is the control. He’s been pretty consistently good so far, too. This may be his best year, but it’s not by an outlandish amount, like Gibson.
Agreed.
This season the Sox are having shouldn’t hinge on Eloy and Robert coming back 100% healthy and ready in August. Remember, these guys are still young, and have missed a ton of ABs.
The front office needs to add a big bat and another high leverage arm to the bp for a deep playoff run. We all know the Sox struggle against good pitching. Stack the deck while you can.
True, they won’t be in full swing when they return in August. But by the end of September and into October? I don’t see any reason why they should not be.
@jhomeslice
Agree. Eloy and Robert should have the rust shaken off by Oct.
Right now the Sox need to do what they can to secure their seat at the table. Sure, having the best record in the A.L. would be nice, but as long as they get in and get hot in Oct, that’s what matters. So they need to make whatever moves necessary to ensure this takes place.
Depending on what Cleveland does over the next few weeks will determine how easy or hard of a path that will be. The Sox could go .500 the rest of the way and be 91-71. Hopefully they do even better than that. But just grab that seat at the table, that’s what matters.
They already “have a seat at the table”. Hahn has the luxury of thinking strategically, with an 8.5 game league in a bad division. He needs to make the roster better for the playoffs. The White Sox are not dominant against good teams, and they need to be if they expect to have a serious shot at a Championship this season. They need more offense (RF in particular). They also need to get rid of some dead weight in the bullpen. There are way too many “good” arms throwing batting practice in high leverage situations. You don’t want that in the playoffs. Sell high on a few of those guys, and bring in known commodities to mitigate weaknesses on the roster.
Sox dominated Houston last series!
Did u watch?!
Go away.
Oh, ok. So two wins against ths Astros in Chicago makes up for an entire season of struggling to score runs against teams with winning records, or slightly above average pitching?
You sound like a Cubs fan, go back to Wriggley.
@ChiSoxCity
The Sox definitely don’t have a seat at the table yet, not with over 2 months to play. I’ve seen enough baseball in my life to know a 9.5 game lead in July is not safe. Actually, the 2005 Sox almost choked a 15 game lead they had in August before their red hot tear in Oct.
Yes, things are looking great for the Sox to waltz into the playoffs, but with 67 games to go, it’s not a guarantee. The Indians could theoretically sweep the Sox both series, virtually wiping out that lead. And we’ve seen teams win 10, 15, even 20 games in a row in the past.
I like the Sox chances in the A.L. Central, but they are not guaranteed a spot yet. Though the way they and the Indians have been playing the last few weeks, it’s looking much better for the Sox.
Hip injuries are a tricky thing. Will the speed still be there?
Yes
My goodness. What are the secrets of this White Sox training staff? Eloy and Robert are well ahead of schedule and their starters have been rocks, as most staffs are dropping like flies.
Does pettitte work with em…
By Pettitie you mean Clemens. Andy got his roids from Roger afterall.
Under my “Tony LaRussa is Mr. Burns” theory, it’s a combination of medicine balls, brain and nerve tonic, and trimming the sideburns.
In reality, it’s luck. 2005 was a really lucky year for their starting pitchers too.
Guess you weren’t paying attention in 2005. Aside from being really good that year they went 11 and 1 in the post season against the defending champion Red Sox. Then a very solid Angeles team including four complete games from their starting pitchers. Then a stacked Astros roster, but yeah I’m sure it was all luck.
I think he’s referring to the health being a matter of luck….not the wins in the postseason. That Sox team was very solidly built for the postseason. Heck of a run.
It was in part luck. That entire rotation got hot at exactly the right time. Solid as they were in the regular season, they weren’t as good as they were in the playoffs. Maybe you can chalk that up to motivation or teamwork or coaching, but I think luck has a little bit of a role, too. They also got some unlikely hits, like Pods’ HR.
Which Pods HR?
@hyrax
Exactly, luck, and timing. I recall vividly in 2005 they had a huge lead at the start of September over the Indians, looked awful for a couple weeks and nearly blew it. But that bad streak made them better, they recovered and then the 11-1 postseason is history. Point is, they can go through a bad streak where everything looks like it’s falling apart… it’s how they finish that matters. So while I respect that they have not played well vs good teams, they looked great this weekend, and have not been at full strength all year. I think things are looking up, personally, and I am a hardened cynic!
I’m specifically referring to the WS Gm2 one.
Agreed on things looking up, but unless the cost is prohibitive, I’d still like a righty reliever. I am ok rolling with Mendick at 2B. Sox don’t need more offense once Eloy and Robert return, not enough to sacrifice prospects they could use in the future. Wouldn’t mind Schoop or Escobar if they can get them for low- to mid-level guys. With each passing game, I think RF becomes less of a priority to upgrade.
Danny Mendick is a subpar hitter, as is Garcia, and there is no such thing as too much offense, especially on a team with a solid rotation.
Best closer in baseball history is named Five Run Lead.
Exactly. All of the five starters have made their starts other than double headers. Has really helped carry them through the injuries. Cleveland starting rotation has been a mess.
This is fantastic news and it’s impressive how well the team has done without them.
Pretty amazing that he’s on the way back from a grade 3 strain.
If I were Hahn, I would seriously consider moving a few bullpen guys that simply aren’t cutting it at the trade deadline. That, in addition to their top 3 or 4 prospects should be enough to flip for a 2B, RF, bullpen arm, and maybe another backup catcher.
You’re such a homer.
You’re such a hoser
That’s not going to get Frazier….who they have competition for. He also has another year on his contract.
I’d love a lineup of SS-Anderson, 2B-Frazier, 1B-Abreu, DH- Eloy, C- Grandal, CF- Robert, 3B- Moncada, LF- Vaughn and RF- Sheets!
Bench- Collins, Engel, L. Garcia and Hamilton
Need bullpen help. Huer and Crochet not ready to handle the pressure. was last year a fluke? Foster looked Great, Crochet looked Great. Bummer is either lights out or sucks. Has the league looked at film of Crochet and Her or do they need more time? it should be done in the Minors Foster is not the 2020 Foster. Fry is not Fry either. Kopech/Bummer can pitch the 7th and 8th. Ruiz can eat middle innings for now until deals can be made. if I had a choice between 2 good relievers or Frazier or Esobar, today I’d take 2 quality established arms in the pen. Heur and Crochet are the future. No doubt but the future is not 2021 it seems. hopefully if Tony stocks with them they’ll improve and I’d gladly eat crow.
Not getting Frazier without giving up Atleast sheets
Then Sox get Escobar.
Not giving up Sheets!
Sheets isn’t untouchable. He is one of several 1B/DH types. Granted, he is a lefty with OF versatility, but if you aren’t giving up a guy like Sheets in a trade, then you aren’t getting a trade done.
Sox fans are so invested when a prospect plays well, especially a position player, because it so rarely happens. So many busts with this organization, and now they have an influx of talent.
A Sox postseason match could be interesting. The Red Sox have a slightly better offense but that may change when these two guys come back. The White Sox have a very clear rotation advantage but that doesn’t factor in Sale and maybe Houck. The Red Sox are probably slightly stronger in the bullpen. Interestingly, both teams have managed to play almost all of their games with the five man rotation all taking their turns. This could be a good year.
A few days ago Cubs’ fans, Billy Baggins, basically was telling us that Robert was most likely done for the season. I listen to pregame/postgame radio talks to the podcasts for a few months where the White Sox have been targeting the returns for Jimenez and Robert in the beginning to the middle of August. As I digress it seems like Hahn is up to something where he will pull of a trade to put the White Sox over the top this season and possibly for next year as well. Needless to say, it seems like the White Sox are pretty content with Garcia and Mendick sharing time on second base so that theory with getting Frazier seems less likely to happen where we can see the Sox on Joey Gallo or Starling Marte.
Gallo makes the most sense for the Sox.
Gallo may cost Burger or Sheets with a few low level players which I am fine with as long as it is not Cespedes.
He’s going to cost more than that, in large part because he’s controllable and they don’t have to move him necessarily. They’re going to ask for someone like Kopech and that is a non-starter. Sox are not going to move him, or one of their top MLB-ready players. Berger, Sheets, sure. But that’s not going to get it done.
The Sox don’t have the minor league prospect capital for Gallo. Like Coop said, it will cost someone the Sox don’t want to trade.
The Sox are better off going after Marte. Or, even better, Escobar would not cost much at all.
They don’t need Marte, they need more power hitting in the playoffs. Eloy/Robert may or may not be ready by Sep/Oct, but they may not be enough.
Eloy ready today.
Robert 2 weeks away.
Trade Fiasco, the Sox can headline the trade for Gallo for guys like Sheets or Burger with two or three low level who can be ready in three years which seems like when the Rangers would be ready to compete in the American League. The Rangers are just looking to dump salaries since they allegedly cried about losing money last season due to the pandemic while opening up a new stadium. Gallo has one of arbitration left before hitting free agency.
By ready, I mean playing at or above their normal potential. These guys are both young, and have missed a ton of at-bats. It’s irrational to expect they’ll carry the team in the playoffs. The best anyone can hope is they don’t re-injure themselves.
The Rangers highest salary next season will be Gallo at about $10-12 million. They will be happy to pay that.
Again, Sheets or Burger will not headline a trade for Gallo. It would be Crochet or Kopech as the headliner and Sheets or Burger would be second billing.
Kopech or Crochet?
I think a cheesy 80s sitcom laugh track would be a suitable response here.
The Sox won’t do it, so don’t worry. But Sheets or Burger is “laughed so hard, I peed my pants”.
Trade Fiaco, you should go see a doctor if you are pissing yourself and psychologist if you think Kopech is a key piece to trade for Gallo.
I don’t see Hahn trading guys like Kopech, Crochet, Vaughn, etc., even if it would better the team. I think he’s still haunted by after-effects of the Tatis/Shields trade, and he doesn’t ever want to make that mistake again.
Dunning was the best prospect he’s traded since, and Dunning is more like a Jon Garland in talent level–he’s not going to be a Cy Young candidate, but could still be a very useful piece in any rotation. Hahn was ok parting with a piece like that to get (at the time) 1 year of Lynn, which has now thankfully turned into 3 or 4 years of Lynn.
I could definitely see Gallo for Sheets and a couple of decent prospects.
here they come-
Is he truly a “star” though? He came up with a lot of fanfare and with good reason – he’s loaded with enormous talent and can seemingly do it all on the baseball field. But to me, a “star” should be someone with a track record of high production in MLB, something that LouRob just doesn’t have yet. Maybe it’s semantics, but I wouldn’t call him a star until he proves it.
This has been addressed above, but in short: already won a GG at a premium position, was on pace for 5.2 WAR both last year and this year, which is All-Star level. You’re right that he’s played roughly half a season, but considering he’s apparently already made adjustments to overcome his terrible September from last year, I think he’ll be an All-Star most years, maybe even contend for an MVP.