The White Sox are baseball’s worst team by a long shot and seemed to acknowledge that likelihood even before the season began when they traded Dylan Cease to the Padres in spring training. San Diego is already reportedly interested in yet another Sox pitcher, lefty Garrett Crochet, and ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the Sox are open to offers not only on Crochet but on center fielder Luis Robert Jr. Passan categorizes the ChiSox as “open for business” and lists Robert, Crochet, Erick Fedde and virtually all of the team’s short-term veterans as players who could be moved between now and the trade deadline.
Fedde, Tommy Pham, Paul DeJong, Mike Clevinger, John Brebbia, Tim Hill and other players who aren’t signed long-term — Fedde is signed through next season, the others are all free agents this winter — all stood as obvious trade candidates to begin with. I wrote about Fedde’s trade candidacy for MLBTR Front Office subscribers a couple weeks back. DeJong recently said on 670 The Score in Chicago that he and Pham both fully expect to be traded. That anyone from that group is viewed as likely to change hands is only logical.
Names like Robert and Crochet being available is far less certain, even for a rebuilding club like the Sox, given the amount of club control each has remaining. In Robert’s case, he’s signed through the 2027 season in the form of a $12.5MM salary this season, a $15MM salary in 2025 and a pair of club options valued at $20MM apiece (both with a $2MM buyout). Crochet entered the 2024 campaign with three years of big league service, meaning he’s in his first arbitration season and has another pair of seasons of club control beyond 2024.
It bears emphasizing that the Sox being “open” to offers or “willing to trade” either player is far different from the team actively shopping said players. That open-minded approach is also far from a guarantee that either will be moved. The substantial control remaining beyond the current season means Chicago GM Chris Getz will set an enormous asking price on both players, and both will still retain tremendous trade value into the offseason and even into next year’s deadline if a deal doesn’t come together this summer.
Robert, still just 26 years old, returned from the injured list yesterday after an absence of nearly two months. He suffered a Grade 2 strain of his hip flexor early in the season and was sidelined for the bulk of April and the entirety of May. He wasted little time in reminding the type of impact he brings to a game, going 2-for-4 with a homer in his return effort. The Cuban-born five-tool standout has played in only eight games and taken just 33 plate appearances this season but carries a .250/.273/.594 batting line with three homers.
Last year saw Robert take his always tantalizing game to new heights. The dynamic center fielder stayed healthy for a career-high 145 games and posted a stout .264/.315/.542 batting line with a career-high 38 home runs, 36 doubles, a triple and 20 stolen bases (in 24 tries). Robert ranked in the 84th percentile of MLB players in terms of sprint speed, per Statcast, and was among the league leaders in barrel rate. He’s a premium outfield defender with plus range and an above-average arm — evidenced both by gaudy Statcast percentile rankings and by career marks of +13 Defensive Runs Saved and +24 Outs Above Average in 3116 innings of work.
Durability and an over-aggressive approach at the plate are the primary knocks on Robert, who is two months into his fifth MLB season and already has five career IL placements for injury (plus another shorter stay on the Covid-related injured list). Robert played in 56 of 60 games during his rookie showing in the Covid-shortened 2020 season, but he logged just 68 and 98 games in 2021 and 2022, respectively, and he could finish the 2024 season with fewer than 100 games played as well, thanks to one already lengthy absence. He’s now had significant strains of his left and right hip flexors, in addition to an MCL sprain and a wrist strain in his career.
In terms of Robert’s approach at the plate, the results are strong so it’s hard to be too critical. But Robert rarely walks (career 5.3%) and chases pitches off the plate more than nearly any player in the sport. Since his 2020 debut, only Salvador Perez, Harold Ramirez and Javier Baez swing at more balls out of the strike zone than Robert’s massive 46.3% (at least among qualified hitters). His 54.6% contact rate on such swings is well below average, and his career 83.2% contact rate on pitches in the strike zone is also a couple points south of par. It hasn’t led to an exorbitant strikeout rate just yet — Robert has fanned in 25.5% of his career plate appearances — but it’s a less-than-ideal trend that could worsen if Robert loses what Statcast currently measures as elite bat speed (seventh fastest in the majors, on average).
There’s little precedent for a player of this quality with this level of affordability and team control being traded. Robert is owed just under $8MM through season’s end as of this writing plus another $45MM over the next three seasons. Three-and-a-half years of an MVP-caliber talent at a maximum rate of $63MM is a raucous bargain by today’s contractual standards. Teams may be wary of Robert’s injury history and free-swinging ways, but he’s signed for the remainder of his 20s and would be a legitimately franchise-altering deadline acquisition if a team can put together an impressive enough trade offer. Robert might not quite command the type of haul the Padres sent to the Nats for Juan Soto a couple years back, but he’s closer to that level of value than the standard deadline trade candidates. Getz alluded to as much in the offseason, calling Robert “one of the best players in baseball” and noting that he was a “difficult player to trade.”
There are similarities, in terms of trade value, when it comes to Crochet. It’s rare to see a high-end pitcher with two and a half seasons of club control traded at the deadline. Crochet is extra appealing given that his injuries and former role in the bullpen have tamped down his first-year arbitration price. He’s being paid only $800K this season. He’ll be due a pair of notable raises in each of the next two offseasons but still isn’t likely to command even $15MM in salary over those two years.
The 24-year-old Crochet’s transition from reliever to starter hit a brief snag with a trio of rough outings in mid-April, but he’s on an absolute tear right now and looks the part of a frontline starter, as one might expect for a former first-round talent who has long been touted to have ace upside. In 13 starts, Crochet is sitting on a 3.49 earned run average with vastly better fielding-independent marks (2.87 FIP, 2.48 SIERA). That’s due largely to his elite strikeout and walk numbers; Crochet has punched out 33.7% of his opponents against just a 5.4% walk rate — all while keeping the ball on the ground at an above-average 45.9% clip and averaging a blazing 96.9 mph on his heater.
Since that set of consecutive rough outings in April, Crochet has been on another planet. Arguably baseball’s best pitcher in that time, he’s logged a 1.35 ERA with a 53-to-7 K/BB ratio over his past 40 innings. Crochet allowed five, seven and five earned runs in his run of three straight rocky April outings. He’s yielded two or fewer runs in each of his ten other starts this season.
Rival clubs might be wary of how well he’ll hold up over the course of a full season in the rotation. It’s a fair qualm, as Crochet pitched just 25 innings last season and didn’t pitch at all in 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. This year’s 69 2/3 innings are already a new career-high for the lefty, who entered 2024 with only 85 1/3 professional innings total (majors and minors combined). That said, even if there are concerns about Crochet fading down the stretch, there’s considerable long-term upside, as one would imagine the effects of a full starter’s workload will be more normalized for him in 2025 and 2026. If he wears down later this year, he’s also quite familiar with pitching in short relief.
Any trepidation about how he’ll hold up this year hasn’t stopped the Padres from reaching out to the White Sox. They’ve reportedly inquired on the lefty and have strong interest in him, which makes sense given not only Crochet’s dominance and San Diego’s need for arms, but also his minimal salary and the Friars’ relative proximity to the luxury tax barrier. Adding one of the game’s most dominant pitchers while barely even advancing your luxury tax line ought to hold overwhelming appeal for the majority of the team’s highest-spending clubs. At the same time, Crochet’s minimal salary also makes him appealing to small-market clubs with payroll concerns. Short of the innings worries, he’s an ideal trade target.
Because of that, the asking price on Crochet figures to be extreme, just as it will be with Robert. If Getz and his team genuinely make both available and play some bidders against one another, the Sox could genuinely overhaul the entire farm system with this pair of trades — to say nothing of deals involving Fedde, Pham and the other previously mentioned veterans. It’s going to take an enormous package of prospects to pry either player from the Sox, but with widespread mediocrity permeating the National League and leaving few teams in position to truly wave the white flag on the 2024 season, it could be a seller’s market. There’s no salvaging this lost season for the South Siders, but getting one or both of these trades right could wildly accelerate their rebuilding efforts.
Arte are you listening?
De Vries, Lesko, + for crochet, Robert jr, Steven Wilson. Who says no?
Who’s the plus coming from SD? It’d have to be lots of plus in there I’d expect for that haul.
30 homemade burritos. I wish I knew what the restaurant was called. There’s a Mexican restaurant in San Diego. You can get it cold to go cook it at home or eat at the restaurant. I only went a few time with my Dad. (Sammy Sosa was still on the Cubs) so it was a like time ago.
Anyway that will be the plus that goes to the South side of Chicago
It would probably take devries, Salas, Lesko, Merrill, and snelling for both (plus the white Sox need to pay down Robert’s salary to stay under the tax threshold). It’s an exorbitant price but you have to think AJ is playing for his job this year. He can’t take the prospects with him so it might be worth it.
The Sox would sure love that level of desperation, but I like your thought process.
AJ on the hot seat seems like a kind of terrifying proposition
As little as he has played the last 4 seasons (just 319 games or 57% of his team’s games from 2021 to today), his relatively high salary, and considering he just returned from a season long injury yesterday, Robert is not worth a huge haul in trade.
Crochet on the other hand is worth a top 100 prospect plus more.
A trade for both of them would likely start with a MLB ready pitcher to fill the hole in the White Sox rotation, then a top 100 pitching prospect a couple years away, and a MLB or MLB ready player with 4-5 years of team control. Then add 2 lower level, but high ceiling prospects.
So maybe
Vasquez or Brito,
plus Lesko who is #69 overall prospect in MLB,
and Rosario who at 24 year old is a good fielding infielder who was up this year for SD where he hit .250 with a .542 slg, 836 OPS and 139 OPS+ and is hitting .288/.424/.638/1.062 in AAA this season,
plus two high upside prospects like Montgomery and Beshears??
Wow more expert scouting and GM candidates all over MLBTR tonight. Whew, why are all these scouts & GM’s trolling here tonight? Most are still in high school or lower too
Wow more expert scouting and GM candidates all over MLBTR tonight.
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Curious as to what you expected to see in here?
Think you’re right. Crochet will fetch more than just a top 100 prospect. He’s got years of control left. Making small money too. A low mileage arm with a recent tjs and complete recovery. Never pitched in the minors other than rehab work. White Sox want to build a farm system. It will take a haul to get him. Robert is more for a team that is on the path of a World Series run that also needs an outfielder. There is a team in Georgia. Wonder about cap space and prospects….if that deal could be done could make them the favorite if they are not already.
you have to think AJ is playing for his job this year.
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IMHO, this has been one of his better off-seasons. He had to do a lot to get under the cap (yes, I know he created the issue in the first place). But he has them in the playoffs without sacrificing much of his farm.
If you don’t think Robert will garner a top 100 prospect, then you aren’t getting him. There are far too many teams that see his upside and will ignore the injury history.
I agree that it would cost something like this, but it would be a shame to again watch the Sox neglect all of that talent once they get it.
Getz can ask for anything he wants. Doesn’t mean he will get anything close. Teams will NOT ignore his injury history because he is making serious money.
If the Padres had just kept the prospects they have traded away the past few years, they’d have a pretty good team and a low payroll. It’s hard to keep up with their “philosophy.”
Agreed. He’s a major talent when healthy.
Literally if any team is going to pay the price, it’s the Padres. They did it for Cease when everyone balked. They did it for Soto. Preller will find a way if he wants Robert.
Come on Mr Kim, you would have to include salas in a trade with crochet and Robert together
A trade for Roberts and crochet would take a near total emptying of the farm. The Sox likely would want Merrill, Salas and Vries to start with. Perhaps the padres could keep Salas while adding some pitching instead.
I think the conversation starts with Merrill and Vries as those two are position players that the Sox would want. People will look at Vries top 100 ranking and see him towards the backend. Then want to poopoo on it. The kid is 17 years old and pretty much every talent evaluator will tell you he is going to rise up the rankings quickly like Salas a year ago.
That’s at the high end of the return in my eyes because of the injury history of both I could see teams not offering as much as I listed.
The money Roberts is making will still fit under the tax for the padres this year since it’s a prorated amount. Perhaps they get the Sox to pick up some to give them a little more room. Though that would require additional players to do so. Eguy Rosario and graham Pauley could be additional targets for the Sox. Both have potential but need playing time to see if they will add up to anything.
Anyways I’m not sure the padres will unload the farm when they are so high on Merrill who is playing roberts position.
Preller usually prellers so who knows.
The CBT was all but designed to have the small market teams pick up payroll for the large-market teams. If the WS had any sense, they would pick up 100% of Robert’s salary in a trade with SD.
That’s what it would take if you were running the team. Can’t wait to see Getz’ asking price. May not be the “haul” you expect.
Sox are high if they think those 2 are worth it. An injury plagued OF that plaus well when healthy but rarely is and a reliever recently converted to a starter. If the Padres are smart they would walk away from that dumpster fire. Let someone else overpay for average players.
They can WANT anything they want, but they won’t get it. Crochet will get a Cease-like package, Maybe a little less because of his serious injury history. Roberts will get far less because of his injury history and the salary he is owed.
Salas, De Vries, and Snelling are not available in trade.
Neither is Merrill.
Hell no!
White Sox say no. Lol
Sox fan here-NO. Not even close.
Absolutely not. Neither are worth it. Let someone else take them. There will be others for far less.
As a Sox fan, I’d give that package a hard pass. I don’t know much about DeVries and while Lesko is a great prospect that I’d probably build a deal around (but for only one of them as opposed to both, Crochet and Robert.
I’d love to see one of them on the Angels. Would they take Kevin Pillar and Jose Suarez? Ha!
Chris Getz was a bad hire.
Was also a bad draft pick.
chris getz is terrible
“getz is terrible”…Panning someone who’s only been on the job 9 months is kind of premature don’t you think? His predecessors had decades on the job to create this mess, so I believe he should get at least a few years to prove himself.
No, Getz has proved horrible at baseball decisions. He oversaw the Sox entire minor league development for years which has almost completely failed at coaching up any prospects to any level above avg to below avg major leaguers.
His only skill has been being a yes man for owner Jerry Reinsdorf. Period.
It’s kinda hard being a worse GM than Rick Hahn. Getz pretty much has to tear it down, he should traded Robert last offseason but the trade deadline or offseason is fine I guess. The new core will affect his GM tenure.
Worse than Hahn? Just by trades Getz has made he has proven he is much worse than Hahn.
Time will tell if Getz is a fine GM.
To be fair, its hard to be a good GM when the Vice Prez (Williams) can override you and make any trade he wants and at any time.
The one big time issue with Hahn were the contract extensions to guys that were only happy to be here and get paid instead of trying to be better ball players.
That’s what I figured it as well. I’m sure Getz didn’t want to be in this situation. I don’t think Getz was given that much talent while in he was in PD. I’m glad KW is gone and not damaging Getz’s tenure.
According to the expert posters here tonight this one deal for either player would make Sox minors one of the best, so Getz must be doing something right. All these clowns aren’t serious adults
sckoul4 hours ago
Worse than Hahn? Just by trades Getz has made he has proven he is much worse than Hahn.
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Most of his trades look pretty good to me. Which ones do you dislike?
I wonder what the severance for KW was? I always figured he had something on Jerry. When Jerry’s wife past away KW didn’t last too long afterwards. Maybe can call the DA for Crook County and ask for the payments to be checked over. Maybe ask Jerry to explain the bookkeeping entries. Ask for 34 counts to be filed so he can be forced to sell. Wishful thinking.
I don’t know. Thorpe and Iriarte are rocking and rolling in Birmingham right now.
Hahn’s trade of Adam Eaton was highway robbery, but everybody who came back in the Sale trade was a bust, and with the exception of Cease, everybody who came back in the Quintana trade was also a bust.
The new core will affect his GM tenure overall.
Give Getz until 2027 to see if this crop of prospects turns out into a contending team, if after that the team is still struggling to get productive players out of them, then the conversation can turn to looking for a new GM.
I would say 2028/2029. JR might be dead by then. If Robert and Crochet are indeed traded, then Wsox are dead in the water til 2027. I don’t see them having a winning season til 2027.
I can tell you that the Sox have some nice prospects in the lower minors. Those guys are a while away and not in your sight right now but they are building from the ground up at least.
They’re dead in the water until Reinsdorf is dead in the water. So it’s best to go young with superstar upside instead of the perfectly cromulent established guys with high floors but no star power.
Absolutely not, he’s terrible ! Robert FINALLY put together a full season of near enough, was at his peak value, yet white sox said he’s untouchable. Then he’s unproductive and hurt so now they’ll trade him. Dude has no clue
Nah, we can pretty safely say Getz is awful at his job, but then again the front office is bad top to bottom.
Acquiring Luis Robert for this long suffering Pirates fan would be a dream come true. Undoubtedly, the dream world will be where this idea will permanently reside.
Rotting for you guys. You guys are just like a bat or two away from being legit.
Every White Sox player is4 sale, make an offer, what do ya got ? Soon to be any Marlin worth a damn fire sale as well. Like chum in the water 4big market teams w/prospect capital to spare, rich get richer.
Zaidi are you checking on Robert Jr? Price might be high but never know until talking to White Sox
This makes so much sense and I hate it
He’d likely cost Luciano, Matos, Eldridge, and probably two of Birdsong, Crawford, and black. Possibly more
Might be high? You might be.
Man, for Robert I would give them Luciano and whatever other top prospect they want, plus some lower level guys. Kid’s a proven stud with a cheap contract.
As I mentioned earlier Robert to the Cubs makes a lot of sense. The White Sox could use Armstrong. Not sure they would have to add much else he’s a really good prospect. And perhaps Moncada could make sense for the Cubs too assuming the White Sox pay a lot of his salary.
It will take more than PCA. That’s a starting point. Robert is a potential MVP if he’s healthy. As we know that’s a big if with his past injury history. But he’s the real deal.
I suspect it might kinda look like the Juan Soto to the padres deal.
I suspect it might kinda look like the Juan Soto to the padres deal.
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I doubt we’ll ever see the likes of that again.
I think it wouldn’t take much more than Armstrong. He has a very high floor because of his speed and defense. And a lot more years of control at a much cheaper price. If I was the White Sox I would take him 1 for 1.
Getz should be fired immediately if it’s Robert for PCA. Anyway, not happening. Another team will make a better offer.
What do you expect? He’s hurt dude. He’s got a lot of talent but he’s had injury problems and is inconsistent. Armstrong is as legit of a centerfielder you could find with 5 plus years of control left. Teams rarely trade guys like that.
Robert obviously comes with a lot of risk. However he is proven at MLB level, that alone cost more than 1 prospect. Even if prospect is of PCA’s pedigree.
You have an interesting opinion. By your comments-Armstrong is as legit of a centerfielder you could find with 5 plus years of control left. Teams rarely trade guys like that. Sounds like the Cubs should just keep PCA.
Armstrong for ROBERTS, LMAO LOUDLY. Sure you would take him 1 for 1 as the Cubs fan you are. PCA so over-rated it ain’t even funny
He’s still learning. Robert is a better player today and probably for the next couple years. But considering salary and years of team control I think the White Sox are better off with Armstrong.
I am a Cardinals fan so kinda the opposite of a Cubs fan. Armstrong is a talented guy ready to play with many years of team control left.
He barely has an OBA over .300. Sprinkle in the history of injuries and any team acquiring him will probably keep him for the two years of control they.d have after this season and then let him walk, unless he improves his percentages and shows up for 140+ consistently.
Lisa is my bias.
I think I’d be okay with this. I’ve always really liked Pete Armstrong.
Wise decision by CWS
Trade rebuild its the only way
They should have traded Robert last offseason.
He was at peak value last year. Crochet can go as well, by the time this crop of prospects are ready to compete (hopefully most pan out), Crochet and Robert will either be a year away from free agency or be free agents.
They will never get enough for Robert if they move him right now, May as well keep him and try to build around him and Crochet for next year, if they are still flailing (and sadly likely will be if Grifol is still around) then I think Robert is moved, Crochet as well but with the years of control and at low salary I just do not think Getz umm gets the real value for both players (injuries and all as I think other teams can keep Robert healthy and likely will have a staff to motivate him to get better, and neither will happen with Ventura 2.0 at the helm).
He could wait til trade deadline or offseason. Still going to get a haul/king offer.
Im not sure I trust Getz with getting a ‘haul’ for Robert.. Probably will get a bunch of single A league pitchers for him (when they need great position players). I also have Sale trade flashbacks
I agree that Grifol is one the the worst managers to ever have the title. He should have been axed in the off-season. Was a terrible hire. Just like many draft choices some of the Cuban born players signed have failed. Cespedes was cut. Colas stinks. Vaughn look lost. Signing no bat players like Maldonado and trading for Lopez/Siroka was done by Getz. He was rewarded a promotion to GM for running or should I say ruining a minor league system. JR needs to go. Grifol and Getz should be terminated. The team needs someone with vision. JR is blind. At least he has an excuse. He’s 87. There is no excuse for Getz snd Grifol. Unfortunately Getz is not the guy to be making the important transactions needed. JR would be better off bringing in a consultant to handle the deals than utilizing Getz.
If the trades happen, they won’t probably get a winning record til 2027.
I don’t think they have a winning record by 2027 if they keep them.
Either 2027/2028.
Based on the expected “haul” for these 2, I’d say there are very limited teams that are realistically in play. Teams with both the prospect capital, the win now mode and payroll flexibility all within their respective plans.
Padres have capital but unless there is some money paid down, would go over tax limit which they have proven so far thst they are intent on resetting.
Baltimore has prospect capital but do they need to make this trade?
Padres are clearly the target based on articles but unless there is a rival, what is the plan?
Who else fits as a likely trade partner when considering all variables?
Padres have Merrill. Are you suggesting they include him in the deal?
Orioles are a maybe. Mullins isn’t playing well at all. They do have Beavers and Bradfield but 1 of them would probably be included in the deal.
Huh? No way. Prospect capital should not be confused with current mlb roster players.
I’m not suggesting the trade at all. I’m just recognizing those 2 teams as having to prospects to have their conversations.
Robert’s value is tied to him being able to play center. I don’t see how he makes any sense for the Padres unless they are shipping Merrill back in the deal.
I for one hope they don’t make that trade.
If you want to add a player which cuts salary, you add Kim and move Merrill to SS.
I don’t prefer this either from this fans perspective- just saying Merrill doesn’t have to be included if AJ feels the urge.
I’d rather a trade for Alonzo to add a bat at a position if need that wouldn’t cost nearly as much.
Yu isn’t expected to be out long. Mazur looked good. Not as much of a rush to trade the farm for an arm (see what I did there?)
I just look at the lackluster haul for Sale in the last rebuild. The Sox will just not get enough for these guys now, especially when trade partners know they are dealing with a new (and possibly inept) GM. Yeah, sure the trades that Getz did last season may pan out, but until those guys are up and producing well in the majors they are what they are: Prospects. At this point I just do not trust Getz to strike gold with moving either player..
That’s why an outside consultant should be brought on board to handle this. Getz is definitely overmatched.
As i asked above, why? His trades so far look pretty decent.
The “lackluster” haul for Sale is being viewed in hindsight. It certainly looked better at the time. #1 prospects just don’t get traded and they were in this transaction.
I do not think that its all hindsight.
As I recall there were questions around Moncada (including health), and Kopech was viewed as a fringe guy, could throw 100 mph but was iffy on control plus fairly certain the Sox wanted Devers but the Red Sox would not budge. The other two guys I think that were in that trade are bagging groceries now and were throw ins then. It was not that good of a trade… even then.
Again if they are moved now with combo of years of control and salary, the Sox are not going to get optimum value for either and if you cannot do that they Im not sure why you give them up for less (an yes i get there are things that could happen like injuries).
As for Getz, its simple, his trades are unproven (at this time). The fact that he has tried to make the White Sox org look like the Royals org has not helped.
I think Roberts and crochet would fit under the tax line this year. It will be close but you have to factor in the prorated amount due. Certainly close enough to make a deal work. Crochet is basically making league min this year and that would be a near even amount they would remove from a player on the current roster. Roberts would put them right up against it but the padres likely could get the Sox to pick up some of the tab on this year. So I don’t think money is the issue. It’s the prospects that they would want to go along with the injury history that the bigger concern.
Padres do need some slug badly. They could turn to the Mets and see if they would deal Alonzo who would cost far less prospect wise. Roberts fits better because he can play all the outfield spots. If manny is going to be on the IL the padres may get desperate for a bat.
Rangers match up very well.
Robert Jr to the M’s.
I love the talent. But LR Jr has only once played 100+ games in a season. He isn’t worth the talent it would take to land him at a minimum Hancock, Ford and either Emerson or Young.. That is just too steep of a price for a player who misses 1/2 a season almost every year.
Any team with a half way decent conditioning staff and org should be able to keep Robert healthy. The ‘free for all’ White Org filled with know nothings and unmotivated personnel is the worse place for him.
(insert any contending team) matches up very well
Tigers should go shopping for Robert. They need offence. Give Tork and Meadows a change of scenery (or prospects not named Clark or McGonigle if you have no faith in those two) along with a handful of pitching prospects not named Jobe. That’s a nice long term addition on offence for them and some building blocks for Chicago.
Sox don’t need a 1B. They need hitters minus 1B.
Pick from the pool of other.prospects they have. The Tigers would be selling low on Tork anyway.
If you like Sheets ok. It’s looking more like Vaughn is a bust. Sheets is the definition of a utility corner OF and part time 1b. Other than Robert and Corey Lee none of the current starters other than the left fielder they gave 75m to should have a spot guaranteed. None are major league starting quality players. 1b included. Any first baseman with a stick can be a DH as well
Lol I’m sorry but we already have a huge bust at first base. We don’t need to take yours, too. Big hard pass on Torkelson.
Tork had 30 HR last year. Throw Vaughn in and give them both a change of scenery and add in more minor league pitchers which the Tigers have tons of (check out their Top 30 prospects). Just spitballing. Harris would never pull the trigger on it.
Robert Jr, Pham for Bichette and KK.
Why would the Sox want Bichette? They are going back to rebuild mode and don’t need someone with such little control.
I was wondering about roberts for tiedemann
New flash- they are not taking back a dime of salary other than minor league deals.
I wonder if any of the O’s prospects that were discussed for Cease in the off-season will make their way to the windy city for Crochet.
Crochet definitely upgrades Baltimore’s rotation, and as a White Sox fan, I’d certainly prefer their prospect package over other teams.
Why trade a 24 year old stud for prospects the same age,
Control*
6 years of cheap control vs 2.
Plus turning 1 24 year old stud into hopefully multiple regulars you can hopefully make strides in a rebuild.
Unless they are moving him to the bullpen, Crochet is not the answer for a playoff team looking to play deep into October. His innings are limited. If they want a starter, someone more established (and with a history of health) would be the preference.
Should have traded Robert last winter when he had max interest. They could have gotten at least two top prospects, maybe three.
They could of gotten the Juan Soto or similar if they did last winter.
Robert is no Soto. Robert’s best season was a 145 game, 5.0 WAR effort and he has been injured nearly 50% of the time. Soto had averaged 155 games and 6.0 WAR the 3 seasons before the Padres traded him to the Yankees
Pads Fans3 hours ago
Robert is no Soto.
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Soto is better, but Roberts 4 years of control is a good bit more valuable than Soto’s one year.
The Padres are all over Crochet
As a life long Sox fan- I know you genius guys won’t like this – why get rid of these guys- give us fans something to hang our hats on- everyone wants the guys but the White Sox. These guys are talented and something to build on . All I hear is how our minor teams are bad. I don’t buy it- there is talent down there- we just need the coaching to bring them along.
AA and lower has been on fire this year combined. All have winning records so far minus AAA.
Birmingham definitely has had a handful of guys tracking, but they’re winning because they have an incredibly “mature” roster for AA. 23 of the 30 guys on the roster should be dominating AA at an advanced age.
5 guys that are 24 years old or will be 24 by the end of the season.
8 that are 25 or will be at the end of the season.
7 players that are or will be 26 at the end of the season.
1 28-yr old, 1 29 -yr old, and 1 30-old.
Stick Chad Kuhl in Kannaplois and he’d likely be pitcher of the year.
So Birminghams record isn’t an indicator of system health.
Id keep both. Hope that Reinsdorf relinquishes control of the Sox (one way or another) to a real owner who then gets a real GM to make good trades or decide to build around both.
If Getz fails to get a winning season by 2027 then yes he’s an epic fail.
Amen!
Laz Montes Harry Ford and a rookie level lottery ticket get it done
Where can a fan put the team owner and management on release waivers?
The Sox should get the best offers from every team for the combination of Robert and Crochet, and then pull back Robert and make other teams overpay for Crochet.
…’make’ teams overpay to the White Sox? Yeah, sure. I doubt Getz has the stones to get the best value for either guy. (and yeah he could turn out ot be a great GM, but he does not look like one right now).
“(and yeah he could turn out ot be a great GM, but he does not look like one right now)”
Captain Obvious is covering his ass.
Pads trade Ethan Salas, Robby Snelling, Dylan Lesko, Graham Pauley, and Homer Bush to the White Sox for Garrett Crochet, Luis Robert Jr, and Korey Lee. Then Pads trade Luis Campusano to the Marlins for Tanner Scott, Troy Johnston, and cash.
Crochet & Robert’s will NOT be in the same deal, period. I think neishould go. Both young
They may not trade them both together but that can’t be ruled out. It’s all about the offer.
I could see the padres revisiting getting Luzardo instead of crochet. Crochets value to a contender is complex because of his innings limit.
This Pad fan hopes not.
Could see the Braves getting in on this. They platoon Kelenic and Duvall and run Roberts with Harris while Acuna is out. Crochet replaces an outgoing free agent pitcher next year.
Would love to see the Reds make an offer. They have the minor league talent to get it done.
Love to see and actually seeing are two different things with these guys, as we know.
The Reds might make sense. A good mix of younger guys on current roster allows the next crop to be traded for some vets. Window opening up soon (if talent progresses) so, why not make a splash. Not a lot of money committed to these 2 guys and Teds should be good on payroll space.
Man acquiring Robert is acquiring the potential and the contract, if you’re contending it’s tough to give up most of your trade-able assets and just cross your fingers. No doubt someone will. But lots of risk there. Not in the guy. Just putting your eggs in that basket for the stretch/future
Of course they are. Even if they kept both and went on a huge spending spree this offseason they are still at least 2 years away from even posting a winning season.
Philly to replace Rojas in CF. Dombrowski is bold.
White Sox fans will probably be disappointed with the final price on Crochet.
Cease didn’t net near the return the front office and fans were expecting prior to being dealt to SD
The good thing is crochet should have 1 cheapish year of arb this coming winter. The con is he’s never really had to be a workhorse yet and he’s had issues with his arm and shoulder dating back to college. So how much can you get out of him this year? Is he on an innings limit if you acquire him?
Cease didn’t net near the return the front office and fans were expecting prior to being dealt to SD
==============================
The WS got a pretty decent haul for Cease. Thorpe and Iriate could both be decent starting pitchers for you.
Yeah it’s tough to judge the cease trade. Cease was more mid than great most of his seasons. The Sox got back two potential starting pitchers in that deal that are close to the majors. If they both pitch avg or better in the majors then that’s a pretty good return for Cease.
There are a ton of WS fans in here that hate Getz for no reason that I can see. I guess it is like that with every team’s GM and their fans, but it might be worthwhile for the WS to actually look at the trades to see who they have gotten so far.
He has apparently tried to mold the org in the vein of the Royals. If that is not enough for you, he could not even perform well in his last role with the same org. Still not enough? He also got the job because ‘the Chairman’ is lazy and power hungry.
Could he be a good GM? Maybe, but its also possible that other GMs will take his lunch and eat it in front of him in major deals..
I agree with you. I don’t want him to be worse than RH or KW.
I mean Getz was with the Royals org for 3 years and in two of those years they made the WS, winning one. I don’t think it is a terrible idea to model some of their strategy when trying to build a team. If I’m at a company that has great success during my time there and I move on to another similar company, why wouldn’t I try to use what I learned at the first company? It would stand to reason that the new one who hired me would expect me to do so.
By what metric do you determine that he did not perform well in his last role?
Who cares if he got the job “because the chairman is lazy and power hungry”? That seems irrelevant to a discussion about how he is doing in his job
It is possible that any GM will lose a trade, and I see nothing to make me think that other GMs will “take his lunch”
The head of medicine was lazy and just picked that 18year old 1st year med student to do your surgery, so you are OK with that right?
As for his ‘experience’, he was nothing in the Royals org, and barely there long enough for that run where the Royals threw enough crap at the walls and happen to strike gold one of those times.
All in all, I still said he could be a good GM, but do you really want the guy who failed at his last job in the same org. And don’t say ‘well the Sox minor league system was best in baseball while he was there’. He benefited from trades to make that system good for the 1-2 years before those guys were coming up, did not really ‘develop’ anyone, those were thought of as good players before they got here. Also, after those guys came up the org was back to being bare, aside from pitchers (which this org can somehow hit more often than naught and long before Getz was there). We see his ‘player development’ skills now of having 1 maybe two position players in the minor leagues that look like they can be actual major leaguers.
Sorry, At this time, I do not trust him to be making such trades (especially if he gets a ton more pitching when you need hitters in the org). This team is already a laughing stock because of its owner.
The team needs a competent owner, and a proven GM, but sadly that will not occur until ‘the Chairman’ is gone.
Baseball Reference says Crochet hits free agency in 2029. Would love to see the Cardinals. Maybe something like Walker, Scott II, Hence and Prieto. Crochet only being 24 and Lefty is the TOR pitcher they need as part of their rebuild. Throw in Nootbaar and Roby and maybe bring back Robert too in a blockbuster. Win-win for both sides. Really Sox could name their price and I’d pull the trigger on the two return of I’m Mozaliak. But I’m not, so I’ll have to just suffer until 2028 rather 2026 to hope to be good again.
After today’s game I’m ready to give Kopech away for a six pack of Falstaff. 10 weeks into the season and the closer has seven losses.
Big news is about to come and it has nothing to do with trades. Yes big news. So word on the street in Bridgeport Chicago is that Ozzie is coming back and about to be hired as the manager of this sinking ship. Yeah baby !!! You heard it here first baseball fans.
Hope the Dodgers are not targeting Robert. It’s frustrating enough watching some of the ABs now. As talented as he is, it is frustrating to watch someone chase all over the place. He’s also going to cost a fortune.
The Dodgers need Infield help more than Outfielders at the moment so i imagine that’s where their focus is/should be.
However, if Sports Illustrated had any credibility left (it doesn’t) it would have lost all of it when they recently suggested that the Blue Jays should trade Bo Bichette to the Dodgers for a package centered around Gavin Lux
What does Preller really have left to trade beyond Fernando Tatis Jr.’s future children?
Just Salas, snelling, Lesko, Vries and perhaps Merrill. Those are all very highly rated prospects except Merrill who just graduated. Plus Mazur, Rosario, Pauley, and bush.
The padres are as well positioned as just about any team to make a deal. Plus they are one of the few teams that are willing to trade the farm away. Sure some other teams maybe able to make a better offer than the padres but none of them have shown they would trade that level of prospects it would take.
If the CWS trade both of these players, then they are admittingly following the Oakland A’s business model.. Strip the team of payroll and talent and get promising MiLB players in your system. Push for a new stadium and get denied because the state of Illinois is corrupt and still angry that Reinsdorf played them last time. MLB will not be able to require the CWS stay in Chicago which will allow that franchises value to go up and he can sell.
That stadium opened 33 years ago and the White Sox played in the ALCS in ’93 and were in 1st place in the AL Central at the strike in ’94. After a disappointing ’95 spent big (for the time) on free agents adding Danny Tartabull, Tony Phillips, Harold Baines, Darren Lewis and Kevin Tapani and would sign Albert Belle to a big money deal the following winter. The White Sox tried way more at the beginning when the stadium was still new to be competitive than have recently there is no reason for the city or state to “still be mad” all of these years later
Never mind ‘the Chairman’ orchestrated the lockout in 94 (it started as a lockout) because of salaries getting too big only to then go spend the most money on a contract with the signing of Belle. Reinsdorf is the loon, and bad for baseball.
He got a sweetheart deal cause he was buddies with Thompson, well all of those guys are gone Jerry, time to pay the piper.
Mets could use a CF who is under control for a few years. How about McNeil, Houck, Vasil and Ronald Hernandez for Luis?
That’s a steep price for a guy that can’t stay healthy
Think a savvy, low key trade acquisition from the White Sox for a contending team: Michael Kopech. I believe he’s controllable for another year as well. Kopech has adjusted well to the bullpen and still throws high 90’s gas. He’d probably be a reliable middle reliever for a contending club, with the ability to pitch multiple innings in relief.
Kopech is a starter being wasted as a reliever.
Kopech pitches like he is wasted, does that count?
Seriously though, I do believe that a pitching coach worth a damn makes him a better pitcher, whether it be a mindset thing, or adding another pitch to his repertoire.
The problem is another team is not going to give up a ton for him as he pitches now.
Pirates start getting some offense Fedde maybe a great target. Lower Salary and even with some moderate regression would likely be a decent rotation arm on a deal that likely won’t block any prospects looking for time.
If the offense doesn’t come around this month it isn’t worth thinking about any farther than a day dream.
I would be stunned if they dealt Luis Robert. They could justify it any number of ways but that doesn’t make it the right move. They would have to be blown away with high end prospects to give up such a young stud player. Sox fans would not be happy if they made such a move, that I can tell you!
Are you really expecting the Chicago White Sox current regime to make the right move?
I agree.
Wsox have anything but to go up after this season. I’m not saying 2025 will be a winning season for them but they should try to field a fun/watchable team.
The team that really would be great for Robert would be the Reds. An outfield with Robert, Friedl,, and Fraley/Dunn/Hurtubise would play very well together. Slide him into the third spot in the lineup and he would crush. Plus he’s not overly expensive which makes sense for the Reds.
The cost? Very high. I would assume the Reds would need to send Lowder, Marte and Collier to get it done plus Benson. I think the Sox would be all over this.
The Royals OF is terrible. I mean next level bad. Would CWS make an in-division trade? Blake Mitchell, Cayden Wallace, Frank Mozzicato for Roberts?
Time for the Pirates to go all in.
CWS Receive: Jack Suwinski, Termarr Johnson, and any pitching prospect not named Skenes or Jared Jones
Pirates Receive: Andrew Vaughn & Luis Robert Jr.
WHAT?!? Pirates get 2 legitimate All Star caliber players, both entering the prime of their careers on team friendly contracts, White Sox get three lottery tickets?? C’mon..
Pretty sure that your Buccos would have to give Jones and their top prospect not named Skenes, too. Plus Suwinksi. Hope you guys get him (but I also hope my Reds do too).
I…I shouldn’t be shocked. Why not. Why not trade away everyone. What absolutely pisses me off as a Sox fan is look at everyone that has been traded from this team in the past rebuild to now. This team has been an absolute dumpster fire for a decade plus. And yet they still have several, highly coveted and sought after players that get back massive returns. They HAVE talent. But the ownership and the GM have NEVER built around it. They are content letting 4 really good players do it all and finding AAAA players to fill every other gap. I am so effing done with how that pretentious $hit bag Jerry Reinsdorf runs this team. Garbage like sliding in a failed head of development into a GM role without giving anyone else an interview. Hiring the worst managers imaginable EVERY SINGLE G0DD4MN TIME. I am at the point now where I actively root for then to fail because he owns them.
Crochet and Robert to the Mets for Baty, Butto, a catching prospect and a SS prospect, we have plenty of them. The Mets can build around those 2, Lindor, Alvarez, Nimmo, Acuna and Scott.
Wsox have plenty of SS and catching prospects.
I wished the Wsox pulled this trade with the Dodgers last offseason…
Dodgers: Luis Robert Jr
White Sox: LHP Jackson Ferris, OF Kendall George, LHP Ronan Kopp, INF Alexander Albertus, C/INF Yeiner Fernandez, INF/OF Austin Gauthier.