Since being activated from the 10-day injured list following a minor hamstring strain, Luis Robert Jr. has hit .982 OPS over his last 43 plate appearances, only adding to the speculation that he’ll be traded at the deadline. This hot streak has lifted Robert’s season-long wRC+ to only 77, but since he is continuing to mash left-handed pitching, rack up stolen bases, and display decent glovework in center field, there is more longer-term evidence beyond just the last couple of weeks that Robert could be a valuable asset to a potential trade suitor.
Though Robert has been mentioned in trade rumors for years, and the White Sox have maintained a high asking price on the outfielder even as he struggled through an injury-marred 2024 season and delivered little at the plate for most of the 2025 campaign. Robert is in the final guaranteed year of his contract, but since Chicago holds $20MM club options on Robert for both 2026 and 2027, the Sox are “operating as if they will have [Robert] under contract for two more years,” FanSided’s Robert Murray writes. As such, Murray also hears from sources that the White Sox “are not operating with a ’get something while we can stance.’ ”
Some gamesmanship could obviously be at play here, as naturally it hurts Chicago’s leverage if the club is even hinting at any desperation to move Robert before the deadline. It was also a little over a month ago that the White Sox were reportedly offering to include some money in trades for Robert or Andrew Benintendi to help offset their salaries, and if the club is still operating with this mindset, that is more clearer evidence that the Sox would probably prefer to move Robert sooner rather than later.
Robert’s struggles over the last two seasons have left Sox GM Chris Getz in a tough spot, as he has been unable to find an acceptably high return for a player who (on paper) is one of Chicago’s best trade assets. Coming off an All-Star season in 2023, Robert’s contractual control was seen as a major plus, yet those $20MM club options now loom as complicated decisions for the White Sox and any teams who may be interested in swinging a deal by July 31. Those option years make Robert more than a rental in Getz’s eyes, but other clubs might only be willing to give up relatively little for a player they might not view as a long-term piece.
If the Sox really are viewing Robert as a player controlled through 2027, it adds credence to the idea that the team will exercise at least the first of those options. With a $2MM buyout involved, picking up the option is an $18MM decision for the White Sox, and seemingly a pretty steep price for such an inconsistent player. Such a scenario would seem more likely if Robert were to keep hitting well over the season’s final two months, but that isn’t something the White Sox can count on as we sit within a week of the trade deadline. Not trading Robert by July 31 and then declining the club option, however, would mean that Chicago would be lose Robert for nothing.
One player who seems far less likely to be moved at the deadline is Grant Taylor, the rookie right-hander who has a 3.93 ERA over his first 18 1/3 Major League innings. A source tells The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that rival teams have been “all over” the Sox about Taylor’s availability, yet the team has barely been willing to even entertain these offers for obvious reasons.
A second-round pick for Chicago in the 2023 draft, Taylor made his big league debut on June 10 and has already opened a lot of eyes around baseball. A .341 BABIP and a low 61.9% strand rate could account for Taylor’s uninspiring ERA, as his SIERA is a much more impressive 2.50. Taylor also has a 31.5% strikeout rate, an 8.2% walk rate, and a fastball that averages 99mph.
With a Tommy John surgery and a significant lat strain already on Taylor’s health history, he has logged only 64 1/3 pro innings to date, as the White Sox have eased him into game action primarily as a reliever. He has appeared in relief in 14 of his 15 big league games, with his lone “start” coming as an opener. Taylor has already recorded three saves, so a future as a closer might be in the cards if starting pitching doesn’t work out. Until the White Sox know what they have in Taylor, it doesn’t make sense for the rebuilding club to move such an intriguing long-term building block, even if it seems like Chicago could already land a massive trade return if Taylor was moved in the near future.
Trade Rutschman for Robert Jr straight up
Sure, it’s a gamble, but a good gamble
And the Sox have 3 young catchers for what?
Bob
I don’t know window dressing and cleanup of the Ballpark
Ask Getz . Teel is rumored to be going in a multi player trade
What are you talking about
The white Sox make that trade any day of the week who cares about having 3 catchers at that point Rutschman is worth so much more it’s not even close.
Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel ain’t sitting for nobody. Just an example of you get what you want and who cares if the other team doesn’t have a need at that position.
Completely ridiculous offer.
Actually, one of them sits nearly every game
Who is Rutschman ?
Hard to believe that an Orioles fan made that proposal. Robert has very little trade value and control unless one wants to take a huge risk.
I mean yeah, I would take him for Robert and then flip him
Personally I think Robert is holding out for HIS deal . I think he can still play ball . I think he is using physiology in some way to make bigger money. ALL major sports have become 🇺🇸 American GREED
What are you on about? None of what you just said makes any sense, why would Robert tank his performance when he has club options that would be worth more than FA? If he was a FA right now he ain’t getting 18 mil a year.
Physiology?!
The White Sox don’t need catching and certainly not an overrated failure. The Orioles have the market cornored in that respect.
How is Rutchman a failure? The sox will be very lucky if Teel or Quero are as good as Rutchman. I don’t know if you’ve seen the Sox roster lately but other than a few rookies it is made up entirely of players who have failed way more than Rutchman.
Lefty_Orioles_Fan —
O’s aren’t doing that.
I’m just waiting for the so-called Cubs fan named Alan53 or whatever to talk about how he’s such a true devoted Cubs fan, but the White Sox are a better team, and the White Sox will probably have a better record by the end of the season.
It ain’t gonna happen
Ok Chisox fans, take a minute and check out the Reds prospects. Assuming we ask for no cash what would you consider a fair return for Luis?
Honestly a guy who has struggled like Connor Phillips would be fair, guy has great stuff and a change of scenery might be good. Roberts is not worth much IMO.
Add in Petty and maybe they think about it.
Petty as in Chase Petty? The Reds laugh as you hear a hangup click. I feel you guys are overvaluing a one year solid defense and speed rental who has not hit at all in 2 years.
tyson lewis as the headlining piece + 2 other prospects
Maybe somebody like Ethan O’Donnell?
Last years first round pick
The Phillies are getting such negative production in left field they should do this.
Mets and Phillies both seem likely to pursue Robert to some degree.
Mets, Phillies, Padres, Dodgers or Reds. He’s gonna end up on one of them in a week.
roob—
[Luis Robert Jr.] And the Giants.
It’s unlikely that Grant Taylor will be traded, it’s possible he’s Mason Miller 2.0 at best.
I actually assume he eventually starts, so his ceiling may be even higher (although Mason Miller comp would be terrific as well).
i’m sure every team including the white sox is interested in grant taylor as well as every other pitcher with 6 years of control that throws 100 mph
No doubt. Taylor has makings of a closer if they don’t stretch him out for an attempt at starting next year. A continually rebuilding team needs arms in volume for themselves. They can trade vet like Steven Wilson out of BP for whatever scout special scraps they like.
Reds could use him…he is crushing LHP at at almost 1.000OPS this year. I would give up Acuna or something similar for him.
Weird Robert’s didnt play yesterday
He tweaked something in the 9th inning of the game on Wednesday. Hopefully back tonight.
Milwaukee badly needs a centerfielder who can field and hit..an occasionally hit a homerun.
They recently got together on the Vaughn for Civalli trade, where each team solved the other’s problem.
Wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve been talking again.
If Robert comes back today, continues hitting like he has for the last month and someone takes a risk with a good package, then you trade him. If not, I think you have to hold him, pray for a big finish to the year and hope someone seems his remaining 2 years / $40M as a bargain and make the trade in the off-season.
$20M is a steep price for Robert now.
Yeah, agreed. Thats why I said “pray he continues hitting”, because if not the risk is that he finishes poorly, no one wants to trade for him, and the Sox decline his option. That would be a catastrophe considering how high his value was at the end of 2023.
Of course the White Sox will pick up the option on Robert’s in the hopes that he’ll be so awesome next year that he’ll be a valuable trade asset even at $20 m. Of course. The White Sox really believe in themselves despite years of poor results.
I feel the Sox will do blockbuster or they will go BUST! They have to trade him because they can’t afford to lose out altogether
I could see Connor Phillips and Edwin Arroyo for Robert but no way reds are trading Petty for him
Both of them seems like a lot
Robert for Cam Collier and Kyle Henley.
I see what they did there, Robert, Taylor. What notes do they have on Henry and Horner?