Luis

Robert Jr.

The White Sox held on to him after his excellent 2023, hoping to cash in at the deadline in 2024, but were never able to due to injuries. They now picked up Robert’s $20 million team option and have another $20 million option for 2027. He still has elite raw ability, but has been inconsistent and injured over the last few years, which “would limit the return on any potential deal.” Still, Passan believes now is the time for a deal and lists the Mets, Phillies, and Reds as possible landing spots.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz telegraphed the move during the second half of this past season when he declined to move Robert at the trade deadline. The 28-year-old center fielder has struggled to return to form after career-best 38-homer, 20-steal campaign back in 2023 where he was one of the most impactful power/speed combo threats in the fantasy landscape. He’ll enter his age-28 campaign as a likely trade candidate once again if the two sides are unable to work out a long-term extension.

With just over one month left in the season, there simply isn’t a ton of time for Robert to rest and recover from a pretty significant hamstring strain and still make it back to Chicago. Getz reiterated the front office’s commitment to the 28-year-old outfielder, seeming to confirm that they’re picking up his $20 million club option for 2026.

Robert was removed from Tuesday’s game with soreness in his left hamstring, and further evaluation revealed the strain. He’ll be out of action for at least a week and a half, but with the White Sox not even kind of in contention, there will be no rush to bring the 28-year-old outfielder back into action.

Robert will undergo further evaluation, according to a team statement. The 28-year-old center fielder went 0-for-1 at the dish, grounding out in his lone plate appearance, before being lifted for a defensive replacement in the fourth inning. There should be some clarity on his status prior to Wednesday’s series finale.

The dynamic 28-year-old outfielder singled in the second inning and scored as Miguel Vargas worked a bases-loaded walk. He then reached on a fielder’s choice in the third inning and swiped second base before being stranded there. Robert also pulverized a 427-foot (111.3 mph EV) solo shot off of Thomas Hatch in the eighth inning that provided a valuable insurance run. With his two-hit attack, Robert is now hitting .225/.301/.370 with 14 homers, 53 RBI and 33 stolen bases on the season.

Lenyn Sosa is cleaning up, with Miguel Vargas moving up to second. Robert thrived in the final two weeks of July and the first week of this month, but he’s 4-for-28 with one RBI in his last eight games.

Robert started off the top half of the eighth inning by roping a single into center field off of Matt Brash. He then swiped second base and advanced to third on a single with one out, but the White Sox couldn’t cash him in as the go-ahead run. With his three-hit attack, the dynamic 28-year-old outfielder is now hitting .226/.309/.368 with 12 homers, 46 RBI and 31 stolen bases on the season.

Interesting. And kinda weird. Feinsand reports that the White Sox are happy with how Robert has been playing, and the team is leaning towards keeping the 27-year-old outfielder and picking up his $20 million option for 2026 rather than dealing him. This all could be a ploy, but right now, it seems more likely than not Robert stays in Chicago. Weird.

The Mets are known to be interested in Luis Robert Jr., and while early reports indicated that talks centered around Mark Vientos, it now appears that Acuña is also an option. That would certainly be more palatable for the Mets. Acuña has elite speed and has shown the ability to play all around the infield and outfield, but he has struggled to hit at the big league level. The Mets have plenty of other young infielders like Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio, so Acuña seems to be a piece that the Mets would be able to replace more easily than a power bat like Vientos.