The White Sox reportedly would “love to unload” Luis Robert Jr. this offseason, but finding a trade partner has been challenging.
According to a report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo, an anonymous rival executive who recently spoke with the White Sox said the front office is “rightly asking high” in trade talks for Garrett Crochet. However, their asking price for Robert isn’t realistic. The anonymous executive added that the White Sox don’t “understand what his value is.”
Sources inside the White Sox organization reportedly pushed back on this notion saying they believe potential trade partners “essentially want something for nothing.” White Sox are not asking for multiple prospects but want a “meaningful piece” in return, according to Rosenthal and Woo.
Robert is owed $15 million next season with a $20 million team option in 2026 and 2027. The White Sox would love having that money off their books but are not going to just trade him to trade him. As Rosenthal put it, there is no point in trading Robert for another team’s 15th-best prospect. For that value, they would be better off keeping him for the 2025 season and letting him rebuild his value.
Robert was once viewed as a core piece of the White Sox rebuild. He is a player that the White Sox have invested a lot of time into. Given the scarcity of quality center fielders across the league, it is understandable why they are maintaining their high asking price.
The 27-year-old is a five-tool player who already has an All-Star appearance, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger award on his resume. In 2023 he proved to be a dynamic force in the White Sox lineup posting a .857 OPS en route to a 12th-place finish in the AL MVP voting. He also launched a career-high 38 homers, drove in 80 RBI, and swiped 30 bags.
While Robert has the talent to be one of the game’s best, the fact remains the White Sox are trying to trade him while his value is at an all-time low. Last season he slashed just .224/.287/.376 with 14 homers and 35 RBIs. He posted a 33.2 percent strikeout rate, which was amongst the highest in baseball.
Robert’s checkered injury history is also a red flag for several teams. Last season he was out of the lineup from April 6 to June 4 with a right hip flexor strain. In 2022 he was limited to 98 games after three stints on the IL. During the 2021 season, he played just 68 games after suffering a hip flexor injury while running to first base on May 2nd against the Guardians.
The White Sox are hoping that teams will get desperate as the offseason rolls along and overpay for Robert due to the scarcity of impact bats on the free-agent market. If not they will hope he can put together another season like his 2023 campaign so they can move him at the trade deadline or next offseason to avoid paying him $20 million.
