Other than Garrett Crochet, Luis Robert Jr. is the largest commerce chip the White Sox have on provide because the membership seems to proceed its rebuilding course of. Although 2024 was one other injury-marred season for Robert, Sox GM Chris Getz informed the Chicago Solar-Occasions’ Daryl Van Schouwen (a number of hyperlinks) and different reporters that his group has “gotten lots of curiosity” in Robert’s companies in the course of the Winter Conferences. The Reds seem like a type of events, as Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer stories that the Ohio group has “a minimum of checked in on Robert.”
It’s no secret that Getz is asking for lots in return for Robert, and the overall supervisor defended his stance by saying that the White Sox are on the lookout for a commerce package deal commensurate to “the expertise that he brings to the desk” since Robert’s “instruments haven’t modified.”
“Clearly, the damage final yr was disruptive to [Robert’s] manufacturing, however the motive there’s a lot curiosity is as a result of possibly a group appears like they will seize one thing that maybe didn’t present up final yr,” Getz mentioned.
Cincinnati is an attention-grabbing potential commerce companion as a result of the Reds even have lots of high-ceiling youthful gamers coming off disappointing 2024 seasons. The Reds went 82-80 in 2023 and went into final season trying to make a step ahead into rivalry, however as an alternative fell again to 77 wins as a result of Elly De La Cruz and Tyler Stephenson have been principally the one member of the group’s youthful core that met expectations. Whether or not because of accidents or simply plain under-performance, gamers like Matt McLain, Spencer Steer, Noelvi Marte, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand now head into the approaching season with loads left to show about their building-block standing.
Speculatively, understanding a commerce package deal involving Robert and a minimum of certainly one of these gamers might assist offset a few of the considerations the Reds might need about Robert’s long-term well being. Granted, Getz isn’t prone to promote low on Robert until he completely has to, however taking up a participant in a commerce package deal that can also be a little bit of a query mark doesn’t seem to be an unreasonable method on the Reds’ half. Simply as Getz can argue that Robert’s underlying expertise is the important thing consider commerce talks, Cincinnati would possibly take that very same argument with regard to any of its potential commerce chips.
The outfield is identified to be a goal space for the Reds, and Robert would deal with that want in an enormous means. With Robert stepping in as new common middle fielder, TJ Friedl might be shifted to left discipline, if Steer is subsequently moved again to the infield. There are many methods supervisor Terry Francona might juggle his lineup round Robert as one of many on a regular basis cornerstones, and if one other damage did come up, Friedl, Will Benson, or Stuart Fairchild would presumably nonetheless be readily available to step again into middle discipline.
A part of Robert’s commerce worth is tied to his contract, which is a discount if the outfielder is as wholesome and productive as he was in his All-Star 2023 season. Robert is ready to earn $15MM in 2025, and the White Sox have a pair of $20MM membership choices (with $2MM buyouts) for each the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Whereas not large cash by celebrity requirements, the Reds’ commerce efforts might be difficult if the group is certainly working inside very restricted payroll parameters.
Possession is likely to be prepared to allot extra money to the Reds’ payroll within the particular circumstance of a Robert commerce coming to fruition, or one other inventive reply might be explored. From Chicago’s perspective, Getz is open to concepts, noting that the White Sox have had some talks about three-team trades (presumably involving Robert or Crochet). “If that’s the easiest way to amass the expertise on your group, you do it,” Getz mentioned.
