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 season, 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 White Sox are looking for prospect capital, not immediate value.
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.