The White Sox announced this afternoon that they’ve placed outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. The move is retroactive to June 26. Chicago will make a corresponding roster move prior to Tuesday’s game against the Dodgers, but will have just 25 players available for this afternoon’s game against the Giants.
The fact that Robert needs an IL stint is hardly a surprise given that he’s missed each of the club’s last three games, but (as noted by Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun Times) the timing of the move is a bit unusual. Robert was participating in light baseball activities before today’s game against the Giants, and he was expected to be evaluated further on Monday in order to determine whether or not an IL stint would be necessary. Perhaps Robert’s pregame activities today made it clear to the Sox that a trip to the shelf would be needed. It’s also worth noting that IL stints can be backdated a maximum of three days, so any time spent waiting after today would’ve effectively lengthened the minimum amount of time that Chicago would be without their outfielder.
The White Sox are surely hoping this will be a minimum stint or close to it. The possibility for a Robert trade has been a major topic of the rumor mill for years now, and after the club declined to trade him at various other points throughout their rebuild for fear of selling low on their mercurial and oft-injured star, his value may now be at its lowest point ever.
Robert has hit just .185/.270/.313 across 73 games this year. While he’s swiped 23 bases and is walking at a career-high 10.2% clip, he’s striking out more than 30% of the time and has the worst power numbers of his career. Even his once-elite center field defense isn’t holding up quite as well as it has in previous years. While his +3 Outs Above Average is certainly a solid number, it’s a far cry from the +13 OAA Robert posted back in 2023.
Between Robert’s declining offense and high salary, it could be difficult for the White Sox to find takers on the outfielder this summer. Perhaps that’s why the Sox are reportedly willing to include cash alongside Robert in order to facilitate getting a deal done. Robert is due around $7.5MM for the remainder of this season, but if the White Sox were willing to pay a significant amount of that down it might be easier for them to work out a trade.
After all, Robert’s offensive potential is still immense even amid his recent stretch of injuries and ineffectiveness, and even if he doesn’t reach that ceiling adding a plus defensive center fielder with speed to the lineup could be valuable for a team like the Guardians or Braves that has struggled to find production in center field this year. Robert is also still hitting a robust .268/.406/.464 against left-handed pitching this year, so perhaps a team like the Rangers or Giants that struggles against southpaws could have interest in bringing him into the fold as well.
All of this, of course, will hinge on Robert returning in relatively short order with enough time to prove himself reasonably healthy and effective before the trade deadline. Even mild hamstring strains can often require at least a couple of weeks of recovery, and if Robert isn’t ready to go by the time the White Sox come back from the All-Star break that could leave the club in a bit of a bind as they try to get what they can for the former All-Star. In the meantime, they’ll continue turning to Michael A. Taylor to cover center field while Robert recovers.
What would the White Sox want from the Orioles for Robert Jr?
Probably more than he’s worth.
White Sox lost their leverage two offseasons ago. Right now, it really wouldn’t take much to move him.
They’ve always wanted more than what another club would pay as evident by him still being in Chicago. If he were healthy and released, how many clubs would take a shot on him? I realize at minimum cost, a couple would but given his production of late, you have to have a hole on your team the size of Alaska for a competing club to make that move. Is the present Robert worth more than the person you’d have to DFA?
@ deweybelongs Short-sighted view. Yes, the present Robert is absolutely worth more than the player you’d DFA. While Robert’s overall numbers are miserable, its because of his far worse-than-miserable hitting against RHers. But his OPS against lefties is an excellent .870. Those lefties make up 28% of all starters. And that is a hell of a lot more playing time than and productivity than the DFA’s player is currently getting. And when he is not playing, he can still be useful as a PR. He would fit very nicely on the Mets right now. The issue is the cost. Smaller budget contenders won’t spend prospect capital plus 7.5 million for a half-season of a weak-side platoon player. The bigger spenders are already into the luxury tax at some level. So Robert costs them the money, a prospect, and more money in taxes. His salary may even push them into a higher bracket that further taxes their entire payroll. And the biggest spenders are into a 110% tax, making the cost somewhere around $19 mil (including the $2 million buyout on the club option for next year).
The Mets. Tyrone Taylor is better than him.
Jose Siri is coming back in a month. They are both outstanding CFs who don’t hit particularly well.
You want a third CF just like them except worse, and more expensive? That’s nuts.
Disagree geo because he is consistent in one area. Getting injured. While it’s later this year. I don’t see the Sox releasing him and I don’t see another club offering anything that would get the ChiSox to trade him.
@ Boston’s Al First, fact check: Siri isn’t coming back any time soon. Last report a week or two ago was that his bone is not healing, and he is shut down indefinitely. No timetable for his rehab assignment, let alone return the the roster. When Taylor plays every day, he hits well for a few weeks. Then he sputters. He is better in a less than full time role. Giving him a platoon partner makes him a better player.
A 4A relief pitcher is worth more than Robert at this point. He is a 0 WAR .180 hitter.
Orioles have 4 A pitchers and 4H Gardeners…a deal could be done
His true talent level is far beyond that of a 180 hitter.
Wrong on both points. A great many 4A relievers have negative WARs. And his OPS is .870 against lefties. He has some value/usefulness for the right team. The issue is the cost – both dollars, and prospect capital.
You’re obsessed with thinking Robert is anything more than an oft injured, overpaid, platoon outfielder.
That’s not what his last 710 plate appearances suggest.
Seriously overrated player
Who’s obsessed? You are. With being a blowhard internet tough guy. You’ve posted your assertion what now, nine times? And always with a put-down, trying to shove it down our throats with like some internet tough guy, instead of human conversation.
All I’ve done is expressed an opinion twice here, and twice in another thread. .
Stats enter the chat. Kelenic has talent; but his stats have him where he belongs, in the minors.
He’s a pending free agent with one great season that the White Sox will probably value too highly. Shoulda moved him when a bounce back was more believable.
Not really much they can ask now. They should have traded him in the off-season.
If I remember correctly they had to hold him to see if he improved his value
This guy has nothing since 2023 to warrant a major return plus has a lengthy injury history even when producing..he’d fit in well with oniel
Why would they be interested aren’t they going to be trading Mullins, o’hearn, eflin if he’s not injured?
Because I told Elias….if he wants back into my good graces. He will trade for Robert Jr
He could replace Mullins but I cant see any team picking up his $20M option in ’26.
I think the sox would trade him for a pair of AA relievers like Keagen Gilles and Yaqui Rivera.
They’re going to get more than AA relievers for him. Teams looking to acquire him are going to look beyond his poor performance this year, and more to the potential he has shown over the past few years.
Disagree, Hank. That promise is too far in the past, and he’s fallen too much below that level. The dollars plus prospect cost make it a bad investment, unless a team is absolutely desperate, with a lot of money, and a very deep farm system.
Why would the Orioles want him?
beavers and bowens
The Orioles will be selling next month, not buying. Their season ended 2 months ago.
More than he is worth . The sox have had many bum deals over the last several years . The Cubs have even ripped them off. Stupid !!! Millions of $$$$ wasted . Robert has gotten paid mostly for being on the DL
A box of bats and a bag of baseballs, albatross of a contract!
A smart and well-run organization will acquire him and he’ll have an opportunity to get back to being his old self. Look what getting away from the White Sox did for Gavin Sheets. That guy couldn’t hit at all for the past couple of years and this year he’s been very productive with the Padres. Several teams will be bidding for him at the trade deadline.
Sheets didn’t get a 6yr / 60M guarantee, Robert is the type of player who wanted to cash his check and set himself up for life, he probably loves baseball in some way but doesn’t seem motivated to play, at least for the White Sox, he has the ability to be great, so in a way Hank is right, but once you let the momentum go in terms of putting in an effort to improve, if you take games off and check out from the competition, it starts to become a force that works against you and it’s difficult to get it all going in the right direction.
Doesn’t seem motivated to play? Are you kidding? Do you watch him play? He hustles all the time, runs hard to first on routine ground outs, steals bases, and plays a great center field. Somebody calculates that his DRS has declined by a whopping 10, and we’re supposed to buy that!? No. Watch him play! And he’s still a young player just now reaching his prime.
White Sox are like the NYY who thing every one of their prospects is a future Hall of Famer.
At this point Roberts Jr is a DFA candidate.
After listening/watching, former White Sox outfielder, Clint Fraizer’s interview with AJ Pierzynski on Intentional Talk last week. I can’t help but think Robert Jr may be falling into the habits of former teammates. As far as not wanting to be part of this team, playing, and exacerbating the seriousness of his injury… Just a thought!🤷♂️
Dayan Viciedo, Eloy Jimenez, and now Robert.
I think he is hapy with his 60M, and doesn’t want to be traded. He is going to be a FA next season, I don’t even know if he gets a deal, if he does, you’d think it would be far less than 20M per. 2 for 15M tops, 1 and 8M maybe. That even seems to be a stretch but he has shown some flashes of his potential, especially on the base paths. He could have another breakout any time so its probably worth the gamble.
It’s a definite gamble like all the rest mentioned above. The Sox have been making them since the days of Oscar Gamble ! Remember him ?
I have had that feeling for a long time . They make more than what they are worth BUT if the owners are stupid enough to be taken so be it .
@grady hall
What do you mean “may be falling into the habits of former teammates”? Have you not been watching? He was one of the ring leaders!
Makes a lot of sense for the Giants as a platoon mate for Yastrzemski and a little extra speed and defense on the bench.
Do you really want this prima donna sitting on your bench, disgruntled? He expects to play every day. (or be comfortably on the IL)
I have never seen a whole group of players go from heroes to complete zeros the way the White Sox previous core has. Most of them are still relatively young. It’s pretty strange.
Poor player and a manager that didn’t care enough about managing anymore. Tony was so checked out and it showed. Also you can blame Jerry for not even trying to interview personnel from other front offices, just went with Getz.
They’re two managers past Tony. What’s Roberts excuse, now, this year?
I agree 100%! I am very suspicious of what these players haveing done ! Millions of dollars and not much to show of worth. What a shame
As a Sox fan, it seems to be several things:
1. Tony came and killed the morale of this team, then Grifol made it even worse.
2. Injuries happened, but so many were the kind that’s largely preventable by stretching and conditioning (like hammie injuries) that there’s obviously a huge weakness on the Sox’ conditioning staff or in getting players motivated to do it.
3. Moncada, Eloy, and Robert all have talent, enough to get them through the minors, but then pitchers adjusted to them in the majors and they didn’t adjust back. Sox until recently has almost nothing for either analytics or biomechanics and there was almost no game planning for hitters.
There are other reasons more specific to some guys, but by and large, the Sox called to find leadership to get these guys to do what had to and failed to find teachers to show them how. And these players failed themselves, too.
He’s now a worthless player, no team should consider give anything in exchange, just wait until the off-season when he’ll be a FA and more likely will sign a minor league deal.
Totally agree 👍
That’s ridiculous. With the right organization he could get back to his 2023 production. He won’t be signing a minor league deal. Smart teams like the Dodgers and Rays will be lining up to bid for him.
He has to be worth his 40 and 26 man spots and he hasn’t shown lately he is.
Overstatement. He hits lefties very well, plays solid defense, and has good speed on the bases. Lots of teams have players on their rosters who do less. Especially this time of year when injuries start piling up.
Actually Hank, you’re ridiculous. Robert sucks, totally sucks.
I have some magic beans and coastal property in Colorado I would like to sell you.
Prime change of scenery candidate. I think he’s just jaded from being on a loser team so long.
Agreed, which is why I think the Padres should consider him. Look what happened with the Sox non-tendering Gavin Sheets & how he’s improved with the Padres.
He like some of the others are making good money for being losers and conning the team
Yep, prime change of scenery candidate. Just like Eloy, and TA.
So he lacks integrity? Got it.
If you watch him play and watch his body language it looks like he doesn’t care anymore. Lacking intensity desire and heart
At least Ohtani can play better than him, oldguy58.
That’s what being a White Sock can do to you.
So glad the reds didn’t give in to their lofty demands last offseason, I will say I think he would still play better on a winning club than he is now.
Just keep showing the me free money JRyeah first it’s the money . Than it’s a winning team . That’s what it as become . You know like the Yankees and Dodgers. Than we hold various teams ( businesses ” hostage or play one aganst the other in a bidding war . The unions are good at that
One of the biggest “what-could-have-beens”.
His career reminds me of Ellis Valentine’s.
That’s what pride does !
Of all time!
Overrated as player and trade candidate. No hustle,bad body language. Loosing culture and complacent attitude has taken its toll.
True. Very true !
Yes, he’s terrible and injured for so long but we still have multitudes of comments on this thread that are outright delusional.
Hacks in the comment section hang onto names way too long.
Why would any playoff contender add him to their team? Desperation is the only viable answer.
Hitting a solid .185 its pretty amazing he has 22 SBs must be from his outstanding 29 BB
What a year slugging .313
How are the WS going to make up from the loss of hitting
Getz has his eyes on Travis Jankowski for 2026. Upgrade!
Any interesting rumors?
Sure! Why not? Trade him to Atlanta for whatever they can get for him and pay all of the remaining 2025 salary. Harris can’t hit. Platoon them.
If his trade value wasn’t already down…
For the love of all that is holy, Dombrowski, do NOT reach for that phone
It’s 2025. Just block Getz’s number in your cell phone.
And yet his OPS is higher than Michael Harris II’s.
I smell a platoon opportunity? Does Harris have a better bat against RHPs or is he platoon neutral?
Not too much left on the trash hea ! Trash for TRASH
Time to move him for whatever they can get. The last of the team that was to be significant for years. What a Major disappointment! Time to bring up Baldwin to play center ! Let’s go with the kids!
The funny thing about him is that he has become a GREAT center fielder–and that was not always the case. But his hitting is more sporadic than consistent now, and it’s hard to imagine the Sox getting a whole lot for him.
Padres could use him more than oxygen. Should be able to pick him up for a song, no?
SD is the obvious fit, but Sox gotta pay Robert’s 2025 salary to make it happen.
He’s a bad fit anywhere. The Padres sure don’t need poor production at high cost
No big loss. Guy’s been cooked for a few decades now. He should be sent to single-A to learn how to play baseball again.
He looks like a star, plays like one occasionally, but it hasn’t stuck.
White Sox should have traded him when they could have.
Pure speculative rental. If you are a contending team with a solid farm system and you aren’t near a CBT threshold (or don’t care) maybe you give a couple of secondary prospects–and he finds himself, and you have a controllable talent for two plus years. Or not, and the price wasn’t that high. But a higher price?
A tale as old as time
There are a few teams that could gamble on trading for Robert with the floor being you don’t pick up his option.. He has probably $7M left on this years deal. The potential upside would be if he was in a strong clubhouse and surrounded by talent. I just think having to be the man and surrounded by a terrible team has deflated him.
Yeah-Robert should have been financially motivated this year to avoid his couple 20mil club options (likely w/another team) turning into low $ 1yr prove it deal next offseason. He’s played himself out of even 1 decent prospect these past 1.5 seasons, but rest assured JR will be thrilled to dump the prorated $ and buyout amount for declining the club option. Some deep pockets club like Mets or Dodgers will bat him 7th and not worry if it’s a couple month write off if bat doesn’t wake up.
One thing we have learned from the CWS experience….don’t buy out arbitration years on Cuban or Dominican players to early.
Not that long ago, Robert was tagged with leading the Sox back to the Promised Land. When that failed, he became the centerpiece of a predicted trade that would bring back a haul of young talent that would soon position the Sox as a serious contender for many seasons. Now trading Robert has become a savage operation.
On the bright side, the Rockies are poised to smash to smithereens the year-old Sox record for single season futility, so infamy lasted only a year.
That Chris Sale trade to Boston was Jerry’s all time worst move as White Sox owner.
Just wondering why nobody is mentioning manager Steve Vogt when discussing the Guardians’ horrid play as of late. His use of the bullpen has become hard to understand, including his continued use of Hunter Gaddis who’s recently been getting hammered every time he takes the mound. And making a first baseman out of Kyle Manzardo should be done in AAA Columbus. Three game-changing errors in one inning by Manzardo is about two too many when you have last season’s gold glove winner (Carlos Santana) sitting on the bench. Yes, winning the AL Central last year earned Vogt some managerial capital but it doesn’t guarantee a lifetime job. Is this the real Steve Vogt we are seeing this year, unable to motivate a listless team of zombies.
The White Sox only placed Robert’s on the 10 IL because he didnt want attend the ALL STAR game..lol 🙄