3:10pm: Getz tells James Fegan of Sox Machine that Robert has a Grade 2 strain and could be done for the year. When asked about the injury impacting the decision to pick up his option, Getz said “We’re committed to Luis.”
2:16pm: The White Sox announced Wednesday that outfielder Luis Robert Jr. is headed to the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. Fellow outfielder Will Robertson has been recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to take his spot on the active roster. The team has not yet provided a timetable for Robert’s potential return.
Chicago surprised many by opting to hold onto Robert prior to last month’s trade deadline. The former top prospect had tanked much of the value he’d built up in a brilliant 2023 campaign by floundering through a miserable 2024 season and failing to turn things around through the current season’s first two months. Robert began hitting well in early June after being benched for a few days, and that led to the general expectation that he’d be traded after all.
Instead, the Sox hung onto Robert and signaled that they might be willing to pick up the first of a pair of $20MM club options on his contract. There was plenty of risk in that approach, as a downturn at the plate or significant injury could create some reluctance to do so. There’s no indication that the current injury is expected to necessitate a long-term absence, but it’s another knock on the oft-injured Robert, who has now been placed on the major league injured list seven times since midway through the 2021 season. He’s played 521 of 780 possible games since 2021 (66.7%).
As for the questions regarding his offensive production, Robert has fared better since the trade deadline than he did in 2024 or the first two months of the current season, but his production hasn’t been as strong as it was in late June or throughout all of July. He’s hitting .256/.287/.402 this month, bringing him to a collective .274/.335/.458 in 198 plate appearances since June 10.
Perhaps that production — and any that he can muster if he returns from the IL prior to season’s end — will indeed be enough for the White Sox to roll the dice on his club option. While it’s a steep price to pay for a rebound candidate, Robert’s 2023 season provided a glimpse at his stratospheric ceiling, and picking up the option keeps an identically priced 2027 club option in play.
The rebuilding White Sox have virtually nothing on next year’s books. Andrew Benintendi is the only player on a guaranteed contract, and their only three arbitration-eligible players are Mike Tauchman, Dan Altavilla and Steven Wilson. There’s ample payroll space available to take a chance on Robert at a net $18MM price point. (The option has a $2MM buyout.) If Robert’s first half of 2026 looks more like his midsummer production from 2025, then the Sox could yet salvage some trade value from their former star. At the same time, it’s also plausible that injuries and/or deteriorated offensive skills continue to dog Robert — but that increasingly seems like a chance GM Chris Getz and his staff are comfortable taking.
there it is… I knew he couldn’t make it through a whole season
Was on the IL earlier this season.
That’s probably how he knew ? 😏
If the White Sox front office isn’t committed yet, picking up his option is proof they should be. For their own safety.
News at 10. Water is wet, The sky is up and Robert is on the IL. Same old same old. LOL.
I know I’m in the minority here….I think the Sox should keep Robert Jr. because I think he is going to be really good for the next few years.
Yes you are in the minority lmao.
I would shut him down the rest of the season if I were them. I expect them to still pick up the club option.
Be incredibly stupid, 20 million for a guy who has had two bad years and can’t stay healthy, Sox fan logic is hilarious
Be nice Van, yeah a 20m flier is a little to much, half that it wouldn’t be that bad.
A tale as old as time.
No team would offer Robert the QO after his last 2 seasons, yet essentially the White Sox will be doing just that if they pick up his 20mil (net) option.
On the surface, they’re doing worse than a QO. At least a QO brings back some draft compensation if he signs elsewhere. I suppose they’re gambling that the prospects they acquire when they finally trade him will be better than the draft pick(s) would bring.
They are stubborn and keep doubling down that they’re going to get some legitimate prospect for him. It’s a pipe dream that’s never going to happen.
Agreed. But that is their perspective. To them, its only money. Their payroll is low enough that its not costing them any luxury tax. And it doesn’t stop them from signing other free agents if they want to. He’s not blocking any prospects. Keeping him or letting him go doesn’t really change their outlook much one way or the other.
I’d still think there’s a better way to spend $20 million.
There is. But they probably feel like they’ve gone too far down this road to walk away empty-handed. They’re dead set on getting something back for him just because. Plus, CF’s don’t grow on trees.
To me, he’s a sunk cost, but they actually have a chance to get out of the sunk cost. I guess this is why bad franchisees stay bad.
The Sox have nothing to lose. He’s not blocking anyone. They have only one decent minor league outfielder and he doesn’t play CF.
This is no big deal to them. They will spend the extra 18 mil next year to have an excellent center fielder and roll the dice.
Look at their outfield. He’s flanked by Benintendi and Tauchman. That’s all they have. Maybe, in a year Braden Montgomery is ready for RF.
They’re stuck with 2 more years of Benintendi at $15 mil per that’s actually worse money spent. Benintendi is so awful in left field that they try to DH him but they have better hitters for that. No team is taking that contract off their hands. Anyway, their tiny payroll next year is nothing.
They’re hoping to get 60 something wins next year and if they do will call it a success. That’s the White Sox.
roob:
They have plenty to lose. $20 million. Just because they have money to spend and no one‘s being blocked doesn’t mean they should throw $20 million away because they stubbornly want to try to get value out of a player that they’re never going to get much value out of. If no one has given it by now, then they’re not going to get it. These are the kind of bad decision decisions that bad franchises keep making.
First off, the $20 million does not matter to them. It does not affect them one way or the other. Spending or saving that $20 million changes nothing. You think it makes a difference, they do not. Your value system is just different than theirs.
Second, we/you don’t know that no one has given them value for him. We only know that they did not get the value they were hoping for at this juncture. They may have received the type of value that they might be willing to accept further down this road.
Its not a matter of right or wrong. They’ve chosen to gamble, even if that gamble is a long shot. Much like the average Joe going to a casino with $200 to play with. He knows he’s more likely to lose it than win money. But its $200 that he could afford to play with, so he does it.
If you’re going to gamble, you look for odds that are more in your favor. They aren’t with Luis Robert jr. The Sox should have taken anything for him, and cut ties. He’s not a gamble. It’s literally throwing good money away. He’s had one healthy season in his career. You have to be able to play to be worth the bet.
geofft:
I’m sorry, but it’s ridiculous to say that $20 million doesn’t matter to them. $20 million matters to everyone. Especially when they have an owner who is notoriously cheap. Anyway, if it doesn’t matter to them, why don’t they have the highest payroll in the sport? They obviously have a budget so to take part of that budget and waste it on this player is irresponsible? And it’s not just about what it means or not. There’s better ways to spend the money. It’s about value. This player is not worth it. And they might think differently than me, and they are wrong. Most teams would not even give him the qualifying offer, which is slightly less than the contract option. They’re going to pick up. And that’s why they’re a poverty franchise that’s been historically horrendous.
The QO salary will be at least a couple million dollars higher, and there’s no chance at all that Robert would turn that down.
They didn’t trade him at the deadline because Getz didn’t get his asking price. It’s a long-game gamble and he’s running out of time. I fully expect LRJ’s option to get picked up as opposed to buying him out for $2M which doesn’t make sense.
Why doesn’t it make sense to buy him out? He has not produced $18 million in value since 2023, that was the only season in the last 4 he has done so, he will not do so this season, and he is trending the wrong direction. So please explain your reasoning.
I understand you’re arguing sunk cost fallacy but I believe he’s still worth the gamble of rebuilding his value to trade for prospects. You say he won’t and you may be right. What else do the White Sox have going on and where can they better spend $18M to move the needle right away? They’re years away from being competitive.
That is not at all what I am arguing. Robert has no value right now. There are FA that have shown themselves to be better the last 4 seasons and they will cost less. A cheaper OF that produces more will get the White Sox a larger return in trade at the deadline.
The White Sox have so many holes that they are not going to compete. There is nothing they can do to change that fact. Even tripling the payroll is not turning that Swiss cheese lineup into a contending team. They have one position player on the roster that is even MLB average this season. That is the lowest in the majors.
Keeping Robert will not help them compete in 2026 or beyond. Trading Robert at the deadline, even if he has a monster first half, is not going to bring a large enough return to tip the scales in their favor. Maybe a couple of mid-level prospects. Organizational filler and that is it.
So spend the $18 million you save by cutting him loose on an OF that is both substantially cheaper and has a chance to get you a better return. Then spend the rest of the money on filling another hole.
Cancel the parade
Why are the Sox married to the idea that he’ll ever be both good and healthy?
The White Sox don’t have too many options to play CF in 2026. Top prospect Braden Montgomery is currently playing well at AA Birmingham as he wraps up his first season of professional baseball that also saw him play with the organizarion’s A and A+ clubs. Montgomery is sure to get a chance to compete for a roster spot this spring but probably could use a bit more seasoning at AAA before his likely MLB debut next season.
The team could also explore the free agenent market or perhaps acquire a CF via a trade this offseason. La Pantera still remains their best veteran trade chip but dealing him would require his 2026 option be picked up first.
Braden is more RF long term than CF. LRJ isn’t blocking a prospect whatsoever.
There’s a difference between a guy making $5M and a guy making $20M, though. Sox could get the same or better production from the latter on a one-year deal with a team option while they wait for Montgomery.
I guess that’s a valid but not guaranteed argument.
All of the following will make substantially less than $18 million ($20 million – $2 million buyout).
Harrison Bader (32) – $10MM mutual option with a $1.5MM buyout
Trent Grisham (29)
Garrett Hampson (31)
Travis Jankowski (35)
Manuel Margot (31)
Cedric Mullins (31)
Michael A. Taylor (35)
3 will have a better WAR than Robert this season. The other 3 will play for peanuts. The White Sox are not going to be a winning team in 2026, 3 of these will get as much or more than Robert in trade at the 2026 deadline, and there is no reason to spend $20 million on a CF when your team is going to lose. Get one of these FA to sign in Chicago. Or make a trade for a CF who can fill the roster spot for a year until Montgomery is ready.
The bottom line is the White Sox are going nowhere in 2026 and several FA OF are almost guaranteed to produce more on the field for less money and bring the White Sox a larger return in trade at the deadline. Keeping Robert makes no sense to me.
Another injury. 1.5 WAR. 84 OPS+. Even the White Sox are not dumb enough to pick up his $20 million option for 2026, are they?
Granted, it is highly unlikely that he turns it around- but why not take the chance? They have to pay someone, and they’re not luring any top free agents there with that roster. It’s essentially a 1yr/20m dollar flyer on a guy you know.
There were 160 position players that provided as much or greater value than Robert and only 22 of them are making $20 million or more. Of those making $20 million or less, 34 will be FA at season’s end including 8 that are outfielders. That does not take into account players that may be made available in trade.
There are cheaper and better options out there.
Those statistics are great, and I don’t doubt their validity- but you have to be able to convince one of those players to sign with the White Sox. There is a strong chance the Sox lose a hundred games, which isn’t exactly a selling point to free agents.
There is no reason to trade assets right now for players for Chicago; they’re too far away.
Pads – does that really matter though?
Let’s say you ditch Robert and find a marginally better player for slightly less money. Now you’ve got a 65-win team instead of a 63-win team in 2026.
If they exercise his option, it is not to compete in 2026. It is in hopes he can have a bounce back year and he can be flipped for prospects. Granted, those odds aren’t great.. but they are a lot better than the odds of the Sox competing in 2026.
And just as an add-on, the Nats were closer to being good when they signed Jayson Werth. It took a seven-year, $126 million deal to get Werth to sign in Washington- they overpaid, and they knew they overpaid.
Jerry isn’t going to do that.
Hindsight. It’s a $18M decision with his $2M buy out. Getz will be betting once again on LRJ’s talent ceiling along with health. They’ve held onto him for this long so why not a little longer now. The rebuilding White Sox are looking for prospect capital, not immediate on-field value.
Rentals don’t bring back much. Better to cut him, and try to sign him for less. If someone is willing to pay more, bye-bye. Use the $20MM for a couple rentals.
A 65 win team that costs less money. More wins for less money is always good and a BETTER player for LESS money is easier to trade and the return is greater.
I’ll go with the devil I don’t know.
White Sox waited too long to trade him, and now there’s a chance they get nothing in return.
Farewell even if a short stint. They can put that club option money to better use. They are stuck with just the Benintendi contract heading into ’26.
Steve, it’s not an 18mil net option, it’s a 20mil net option because it includes a 2mil buyout on another 20mil option for 2027.
Yes. But they are not responsible for that buyout if they manage to trade him before the end of next season. We can scoff at the idea that they will be able to find a trade all we like. But thats their thought process.
Get this bum off the team.
What’s up with the MLBTR’s website? Do we have to pay more money to see entire articles? 1/3 of the screen is blocked out. Right side of the screen is blocked,
Oh well… you get what you pay for.
Had the same problem but they seem to have fixed it now. FYI, even when it was doing that, if you click on ‘comments’, that came up normal.
In general each 1 WAR is worth 8-9m. If he was a 2 WAR player he would be paid close to what he is worth. Gambling he can be slightly better next year when you have no legit CF coming up makes sense. Plus if you remember last year the players union has been pretty pissy about teams putting up extremely low salaries. This helps cover that too. Worst case you have a plus defensive cf for 100-120 games next year
@B Thomas I disagree with your assesment of WAR. Tommy Edman was worth around 7 WAR 3 years ago, he is a 70 million dollar a year player? Myles Straw, who hit like 1 homerun in 2022 had almost 4 WAR, 40 million dollar per year player? I’ll stick with using the eye test when it comes to how valuable a player truly is
You don’t have to like it but in free agency to replace his 1.5 war would cost about 12-14M.
The theory is, top teams can pay value because every win is important.
Rebuilding teams, why pay the going rate?
I know most of the comments at mlbtr poopoo that bad teams cannot lure players.
But playing time is a allure.
The chws arent looking for the top players.
Grab 10 under the radar players who are wanting playing time. Sandberg, Sutter, Justin turner, David Ortiz, George bell.
My two cents
White Sox should’ve traded Robert Jr at the trade deadline while they had a chance. They’ll be lucky to get any meaningful return to him
They didn’t want a lowball return.
It’s not low if the guy can’t hit and isn’t healthy.
Yeah, no hit like Andrew Vaughn. Now he’s the bargain the Brewers stole – he’s in the conversation for MVP. LRJ has a higher ceiling than Vaughn. I’ve seen countless highlights reel catches and moon shots from Robert this year, for a 2.8 war. Healthy? Eovaldi has a 3.2 war this year at $70 mil per. Bottomline – other GMs saw a chance to squeeze the WS, I’d love to see LRJ return to 2023 form and surprise everyone next year. Let’s see.
He’s a FA at the end of the season, with 2 club options. They weren’t getting anything for him. He was batting .196 a the break, and has only 1 healthy season in his career. The White Sox were stupid not to get something for him…anything. There is no low ball offer for a player like Luis Robert jr. His value is very limited because of his injuries, and performance at the plate.
Well at the same time LRJ isn’t blocking a prospect in the Sox system. Wsox are extremely thin on OF talent not named Braden Montgomery and George Wolkow(he’s more of a long term lotto ticket).
Which is probably why they should have traded LRJ for an outfield prospect. I just don’t know what the fascination with him is. Great potential constantly interrupted by injury. And he never seems to recover.
They need to spend that money wisely. Somebody who can stay on the field and help this team get back to the playoffs.
It’d take a lot more than someone (or two, or three) to get them back there. Whoever they’d sign with this money would probably reach free agency again by the time they get there.
Has Jerry died/sold the team yet? That’s all that really matters with the Sox
At minimum 2029.
The most untradable “star”
Does anyone here understand how elite his defense is and how young their starting pitching will be next year? With payroll to spare, having a guy turning doubles into outs has some merit. That could be the difference from a young starter getting shelled to lasting 5,6 innings instead. I’m not saying I’d pick it up for sure, but there is more of a debate than most here realize. Plus….there is potential for upside offense versus a glove only CF.
His defense isn’t elite. It just isn’t. He’s good laterally and covers a lot of ground (especially towards left). He’s ok going back. He lets a lot of balls fall in front of him, and is slow to throw the ball to 3rd allowing a lot of runners to advance. He’s good enough to play centerfield and that is an important position. But he’s simply not an exceptional center fielder.
Was Sale for Robert and Moncada the worst trade ever?
Kind of hard for a trade that never happened to be considered for best, worst, or anything in-between.
We’ll never know!
Since that trade never happened, I would say it was about even for both sides.
To all the Mets fans who wanted to trade for this guy at the deadline…I TOLD YOU SO!!!
Good pickup, he’s turned it around while flashing elite speed and defense. Plus the young guys on the club love his leadership
They should have taken the lint from my dryer in a trade for him.
Very over rated and oft injured player.
Should have taken the best offer after 2023 breakout year.