Luis Robert is expected to rejoin the White Sox this week, per Jared Wyllys of The Chicago Sun-Times. The outfielder has been out since early May after suffering a Grade 3 strain of his right hip flexor tendon. Rehabbing players can spend 20 days in the minors on rehab assignments. Since Robert’s first game of his rehab was July 21st, the 20 days will have elapsed tomorrow, August 9th. [UPDATE: Robert will be activated before tomorrow’s game, Tony La Russa told The Athletic’s James Fegan and other reporters.]
Given Robert’s immense talent, this is tremendous news for the club. But it’s also going to create some tough decisions. “We’re going to get squeezed. We’ve had some guys earn a lot of at-bats who don’t want to give them up, so we’ll see what happens,” Wyllys quotes manager Tony La Russa as saying. In the absence of Robert, and the recently-returned Eloy Jimenez, the White Sox have had some players step up and hold the outfield together. Brian Goodwin, signed to a minor league contract in May, has been given 165 plate appearances and responded by putting up a wRC+ of 119. Gavin Sheets has a wRC+ of 111 across 99 plate appearances. But before going on the IL, Robert was a notch above both, with a wRC+ of 128 in 103 plate appearances. And the White Sox obviously consider Robert a cornerstone of their club, given the big extension they gave him before the 2020 season. Between Robert, Jimenez, Goodwin, Sheets and Adam Engel, the team will be spoiled for choices in the outfield, as they are sitting comfortably atop the AL Central 10 1/2 games ahead of Cleveland.
More from the Junior Circuit…
- La Russa also provides an update on Yasmani Grandal, who is doing on-field drills but isn’t quite ready for a rehab assignment. “There’s been some discussion, but I think it’s still a guestimate,” La Russa said. “The big thing, he’s improving, and he’s getting better.” Grandal has always had a profile that included low batting averages, overcome by high walk rates and power. But he took that model to new extremes in 2021 before tearing a tendon in his knee in July, as evidenced by his incredible slash line of .188/.388/.426, producing a wRC+ of 135. Seby Zavala has done well in his stead, slashing .238/.333/.500, though in a small sample of just 50 plate appearances.
- Chris McCosky of The Detroit News gets an update on Jake Rogers from Tigers manager AJ Hinch. “He’s not quite ready to throw yet,” Hinch said. “We won’t see him in the month of August. September at the earliest. We just hope there are no setbacks at this point. If we do anything that causes a setback between now and September, then we’re talking about missing the rest of the year. So we’re trying to be super cautious with his step by step progress.” Before hurting his throwing arm in July, the 26-year-old catcher was enjoying a breakout season, slashing .239/.306/.496, with a wRC+ of 116. With Rogers out, Eric Haase has taken over with aplomb, producing an even better line of .247/.297/.532, for a wRC+ of 122.
- Chris Archer could potentially resume his rehab assignment this week, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The righty was removed from a rehab start a week ago with hip soreness. It seems to have only been a minor setback, with Archer getting back on the mound this week. As of last week, Archer was scheduled to throw 75 pitches, on his way to building up for a starter’s workload. But he was removed after 31 pitches because of the hip issue. Tampa surprisingly subtracted from its rotation at the trade deadline, sending Rich Hill to the Mets, seemingly confident enough in the emergence of younger options such as Luis Patino, Shane McClanahan and Josh Fleming. Archer has an excellent track record but is a few years removed from meaningful contributions on the hill, due to various injuries. Since 2019, he’s thrown 124 innings, with an ERA of 5.23.
Wonder what Cleveland did not see in Eric Haase, especially being so catching-poor.
his numbers above the AA number hadnt been great until this year
He couldn’t hit a lick, wasn’t as good as Roberto defensively, but improved when he went home to Detroit. Didn’t the Tigers also cut him loose before bringing him back?
Suffering Guardian fan,
Haase had a .832 ops with 28 HR for Columbus before the team got rid of him. I wouldn’t say that’s “not hitting a lick,” especially for a catcher.
Eric Haase can’t play the White Sox 162 games a year.
His numbers are HoF worthy against them…
Would think Sheets is the odd man out heading down to Charlotte after a positive mlb stretch.
Maybe Sox can do without a BP arm for now and keep Sheets.
I would have thought Goodwin was the obvious choice to send down, but he is on fire of late…. Sheets seems better served with playing time in minors… I hope they find a way to keep Hamilton on the playoff roster as a defensive replacement and elite pinch runner.
Sheets has options and can come back if they wish in a few weeks.
Goodwin is also under control for next season.
I don’t know how much salary the Sox would have to eat, but could we release Jake Lamb? I really don’t see a spot for him now.
Jake Lamb doesn’t do much that Sheets can’t…. Did he occasionally spell Moncada at 3rd? With addition of Hernandez and Jiménez, Garcia slides into a strictly infield utility role… Burger > Lamb
Lamb played 3 games at 3b. So he is more versatile than Sheets I guess, but I don’t see where he is a better hitter. He has not posted an OPS over .700 since 2017. Whatever argument could be made that Sheets is not likely to keep up what he has done, Lamb is not either. Sheets cannot hit lefties at all (is 0 for 12), but has an OPS of .890 vs righties, almost 150 points higher than Lamb. I just cannot see where in a pinch hit situation or DH vs a righty, which will be the primary use of Sheets or Lamb going forward, where Sheets is not at least a slightly better hitter. But I get the sense they will send Sheets down in spite of that. Hoping they release Lamb instead, I would prefer Sheets coming off the bench as a hitter very easily, especially in October. I don’t think Lamb offers much, personally. Would send down Lopez first before anybody else as well. His inning the other night was 30 agonizing pitches against KC, I think he will get crushed vs any good team.
In a vacuum, I love his left handed power bat off the bench. But if they are healthy, who is he going to hit for? I guess you could platoon him with Vaughn or Engel, but Vaughn hasn’t really been awful against righties lately, Engel, and it shocks me to say this, has been a really good offensive player who has hit RHP better than LHP in a small sample size, and Sheets isn’t going to hit for Anderson, Abreu, Jimenez, or Robert, or any of the switch hitters, so that would limit him to pinch hitting in an NL park in the World series.
Sheets may be a regular in the OF next year, but it’s all about the playoffs now, and I think Goodwin or Hamilton as a late inning defensive replacement for Vaughn/Jimenez or a pinch runner for one of those guys, Abreu, or Grandal gives them more value and flexibility in that roster spot.
Agreed but you could make the same arguments against Lamb. When Hamilton comes off the IL I think Lamb needs to go, assuming Sheets is sent back first. I don’t see giving up a BP arm as LaRussa is already concerned about the starters piling up IP.
Hamilton isn’t coming off until September.
The most logical option is to send Sheets down for a few weeks, then call him back when rosters are expanded.
It’s not that big of a deal to let him go down for a few weeks so they can not have to waive vet players. He’s been in a slump anyway.
Luis Robert will be activated in time for Monday evening’s game versus the Twins in Minnesota. My guess is that Gavin Sheets will make way for him and be sent to AAA Charlotte. There is little doubt the White Sox could use Sheet’s left-handed power bat off of the bench but he would be better served getting regular PA’s down in AAA where he will continue to provide the White Sox with an additional insurance policy in RF and at 1B.
Reportedly, OF Luis Gonzalez who is currently at AAA will miss the remainder of the 2021 season with a right labrum injury. Gonzalez is on the White Sox 40-man roster and will likely be placed on the 60-day IL. Robert will be coming off of his own 60-day IL stint on Monday so the two OF’s will just swap places which will not require the team to make a corresponding DFA move to open a 40-man roster spot.
Agree, I love the potential Sheets displays but it makes most sense to get him regular ABs for next 3 weeks in AAA. I believe rosters expand in September so I definitely see him coming back up to White Sox then.
I forgot to mention and so did the article writer that Andrew Vaughn is OF piece and depth option at 1B too. Looking ahead to possible playoff roster I like Zevala over Collins as backup catcher. Utility guy Leury Garcia. RF platoon of Engel/Goodwin or Sheets. Maybe keep Hamilton if his speed or defense will be needed.
TA, Hernandez, Abreu, DH-Eloy, Grandal, Robert, Moncada, Vaughn and Engel/Goodwin
No platoon – just play Engel everyday. Bench – Garcia, Goodwin, Sheets, and
Zevala. Collins good -bye.
Sheets will go down tomorrow for Robert. Lamb or RP will go down for Hamilton. Sheets, RP, or 3rd catcher with be the 2 callups in September. Burger only other one with a chance at postseason roster.
I’d like to see Sheets get more reps at 1st. base too.
Over Vaughn? I appreciate what Sheets has done, but realistically, he is trade bait to reload. He is blocked at virtually every position, when everyone is healthy, and his biggest attribute is his left handed power.
Send Collins sorry ass down when Grandal comes back.
Yap
Hate to admit it, but yeah…. Zavala offers substantially better defense, and he’s been contributing offensively… I believe Collins has a future, but the time is now and he ain’t hitting
Zack Collins has basically taken over the role of being the personal catcher for Lucas Giolito, one that James McCann performed so admirably for the White Sox last season after they signed FA Yasmani Grandal. McCann typically caught Dylan Cease, something that Collins had also been doing often in 2021 until Seby Zavala was promoted who also had a lot of experience with him as minor league batterymates.
@David Totally agree. I thought when Grandal went down that Collins might rise to the occasion and hit much better with regular at bats. That certainly did not happen. There is a chasm of difference in defense between him and Zavala, with Collins not hitting enough to justify playing time. That’s why we’ve seen Zavala starting most of the time recently, obviously. I hope they send Collins down when Grandal returns, Collins offers so little to keep as a 3rd catcher. If Collins does not hit a lot better than he has, he has very little value. Now if only Zavala could hit a few homers once in a while like his 3 homer game, that had to be about the craziest thing I’ve ever seen!
Grandal will be an enormous add back. The guy was walking twice a game before he went down, delivering the power, and extending counts. The offense has suffered greatly with his absence. He proved that BA isn’t everything. With Robert also they will be a beast soon. Houston V Chicago will be a thrilling ALCS.
Sox bench loaded and bullpen falling into place.
Tony knows. Thank you Tony.
Breaking news: WHITE SOX OUTFIELDER LUIS ROBERT TO START ON MONDAY
soxon35th.com/white-sox-outfielder-luis-robert-to-…
Still waiting on who will be sent down to accommodate Robert on the active roster. That news will likely be made public through an official press release immediately following tonight’s game versus the Cubs and before the team departs to Minnesota.
Chris Archer still plays baseball?
Does Jake Rogers know how bad his mustache makes him look?