Luis Robert Jr. has been the subject of trade rumors for well over a year. With the White Sox in a full rebuild, it has felt like a matter of time before the 2023 All-Star would head elsewhere.
That has been complicated by Robert’s recent play. He missed a couple months early last year with a hip flexor strain and hit .224/.278/.379 with 14 homers in 100 games. The Sox held him over the offseason, maintaining a high asking price in hopes that he’d rebound and emerge as a key deadline trade chip. That hasn’t happened, as Robert’s numbers have only further spiraled. He goes into tonight’s game with a .186/.281/.308 line over 180 plate appearances. Robert has taken walks at a career-best 11.7% rate, but he’s striking out 29% of the time and not hitting for his usual amount of power.
Robert acknowledged that the lack of production is tanking his trade value. “Right now, as my season is going, I don’t think anybody is going to take a chance on me,” he told reporters through an interpreter (link via Kyle Williams of The Chicago Sun-Times). There are a little over two months for Robert to turn things around before the deadline. He remains a capable defensive center fielder and leads MLB with 17 stolen bases. Robert still has intriguing physical tools, but he hasn’t come close to his 2021-23 numbers (.287/.331/.511) in the batter’s box.
The Sox owe Robert what remains of his $15MM salary. He’s controlled via $20MM club options for another two seasons, but it’s increasingly difficult to see the team exercising those.
In other news out of Chicago, the Sox finalized their one-year deal with righty Adrian Houser this afternoon. He drew right into the rotation and held Seattle scoreless over six innings in a 1-0 victory for his team debut. Manager Will Venable confirmed that the Sox were moving Bryse Wilson back to the bullpen as a result of the signing (link via Scott Merkin of MLB.com).
Wilson had begun the year in relief but drew into the starting five after the Martín Pérez injury. He had a 5.28 ERA over 10 relief appearances. He struggled in four starts, surrendering 13 runs across 17 2/3 innings. Wilson is out of options, so the Sox needed to keep him on the MLB roster or designate him for assignment. He’s likely to work as a long man.
Meanwhile, Andrew Benintendi began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte this evening. He went 0-4 with a strikeout while working as the designated hitter. Benintendi has been out for two weeks with a strained calf. He’d hit .224/.298/.400 with five homers through his first 24 games. Austin Slater is the primary left fielder in Benintendi’s absence.
The career high walk rate coupled with a career high chase rate = not seeing anything to hit in that lineup. If he gets traded to a contender with some protection, think he’s at minimum a .250/.325/.450 hitter.
Welcome Adrian Houser!!
Signed before game tonight and wins 1-0. Only 2 hits through 6 innings. Picked runner off 1B as well.
How long do the WS wait before finally giving up on Robert? This is likely their 3rd straight 100-loss season, and they are still waiting for that *magic moment* to trade him.
There probably won’t be a come to Jesus moment with Robert. No matter what, he’s not going to produce at the level that he should with the White Sox. Getz isn’t going to get the prospect haul he wants, he blew that opportunity two offseasons ago.
I still think that, once he’s away from the Sox’ losing culture, he’ll be a very good player again. It’s just a matter of who is going to take that chance. The Sox will get very little in return.
2023 was his only good season and he’s an injury prone player. Maybe Getz tried to trade him but he didn’t get what he want.
The Sox shouldn’t trade Robert if he doesn’t improve. Pick up his option for 2026 and hope his play rebounds and maybe a contender will want him next year and for 2027, too. They can afford it since he and Benintendi are the only big salaries. Next biggest are Vaughn and Rojas and they can be non-tendered.
Bucket: No way is Reinsdorf paying anyone $15m. That’s about 15 players to him. One way or another, this is Robert’s last year with the Sox.
Robert does have some talent but he gave up on the White Sox-just like Moncada – Anderson-etc. Sox need to cut free Both Robert and Vaughn. Bring up the kids- get this rebuild started.
Robert will, hopefully, figure it out, get hot, and then traded for one good prospect.
Last year when they were talking about Seattle trading for him I hoped they wouldn’t. One good year is not worth what they were asking for him. I don’t think that he can build up to get a good return. Not getting a top 100 pick for him. Chicago would have to eat a bunch of salary to get a decent return.
With that said what level of prospect do you think he would be worth if he hit .250 until the trade deadline. What prospect from Seattle would you think is fair? That question is open to anyone. What Seattle prospect will he be worth if he hits .250 starting tomorrow until he is traded?
Luis Robert’s career trajectory reminds me of Ellis Valentine. A budding star with the Expos through his age-25 season (All-Star, Gold Glove). Then he slumped, was traded to the Mets, and never regained his early form. Valentine was essentially done at age 28. One of the great outfield arms who unsuccessfully tried to convert to pitching later on.
Anyway, buyer beware on Robert. Yes, he might, rebound, but it’s just as likely this new version of him is all you’ll get.
They have nothing to lose by playing him and hoping he figures things out.
Given how cheap Jerry is, you’d have to think there is an outside chance Robert is playing bad enough that the Sox don’t exercise their $20M options on him for 2026/27 if there are no takers. He’s not worth 20 million dollars the way he’s playing, not even close. Why waste that money for an oft injured, disappointing player on a last place team? They should take one decent prospect if they can get one and move on. And hope Jerry dies or sells in the next few years before any talent they have in the minors is wasted like it was with the prior “rebuild” a few years ago.