White Sox CF Luis Robert Jr.’s High Touchdown Spots amid Newest MLB Commerce Rumors

Any staff out there for a dynamic heart fielder with a number of years left on his contract would possibly need to name the Chicago White Sox.

The commerce deadline is probably not till July 30, however ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Tuesday that the White Sox are already open for enterprise and “are keen to deal” Luis Robert Jr. In accordance with Jon Heyman of the New York Put up on Thursday, the White Sox are even “actively looking for packages” for Robert.

It is an about-face for Chicago basic supervisor Chris Getz, whose line on the 26-year-old in December was: “I’ve a troublesome time seeing him carrying one other uniform subsequent 12 months.”

However such is life amid the type of 12 months the White Sox are having. “Catastrophic” does not even lower it, as their 15-48 begin has them on tempo for 123 losses. That may break the fashionable MLB report of 120.

So, it is truthful recreation to invest on touchdown spots for Robert. However first, we have now to evaluate his commerce worth.

We all know Robert is able to being an elite heart fielder from his complete physique of labor, however particularly from what he did in 2023.

Final season noticed him log a career-high 145 video games and end with 38 house runs, 20 stolen bases, an .857 OPS and 5.0 rWAR. Amongst all heart fielders, solely Julio Rodríguez had him beat within the latter class.

Nonetheless, whereas Robert has been an All-Star and likewise gained a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger, he is not with out his warts.

He has 316 extra strikeouts than walks for his profession, and he is spent a ton of time on the injured checklist in three of the final 4 seasons. So it goes in 2024, as he is recent off a two-month keep on the IL with a hip flexor strain.

Nonetheless, Robert is simply too younger for anybody to imagine accidents will all the time be a think about his profession. And factoring in two membership choices, he’ll make solely $67.5 million between now and 2027. He’d nearly actually make greater than that on the open market.

Baseball Trade Values estimates his surplus worth at $36.4 million. That does not make him price a Jackson Holliday or a Paul Skenes degree of prospect in a commerce, however it is sufficient to command a haul consisting of not less than one top-100 sort.

With this in thoughts, let’s dimension up 10 potential suitors based mostly on how badly they want Robert and the way a lot sense they make as buying and selling companions for the White Sox.

Observe: All farm system and prospect rankings are courtesy of B/R’s Joel Reuter.

10. San Diego Padres

Document: 32-34, 2nd in NL West

Present Heart Fielder: Jackson Merrill

The Padres acquired Dylan Stop from the White Sox in March, and now they reportedly have their eye on left-hander Garrett Crochet. Might a bundle deal work? It is a enjoyable idea, however here is the place actuality crashes the occasion: San Diego’s outfield is already one among MLB’s best.

9. Minnesota Twins

Document: 33-29, Third in AL Central

Present Heart Fielder: Byron Buxton

Buxton’s return to heart discipline is not going nicely, as he has solely .639 OPS on high of less-than-encouraging hitting metrics. A commerce for Robert would spare Buxton from this burden, however the Twins even have greater must fill. Like, say, in left discipline and on the mound.

8. San Francisco Giants

Document: 30-33, T-Third in NL West

Present Heart Fielder: Mike Yastrzemski

The Giants had been dealt an enormous blow when Jung Hoo Lee had season-ending shoulder surgery final month. They’d actually be higher off with Robert in his place than Yastrzemski. However with solely so many prospects to barter with, they need to search less-risky additions.

7. Baltimore Orioles

Document: 39-22, 2nd in AL East

Present Heart Fielder: Cedric Mullins

The Orioles want a pitcher or two rather more than they want one other hitter, however they do have the prospect capital to pursue Robert. He’d be a simple improve over Mullins, who’s already dropping enjoying time amid a battle marked by a .539 OPS.

6. Atlanta

Document: 35-25, 2nd in NL East

Present Heart Fielder: Michael Harris II

Atlanta isn’t necessarily looking for an outfielder within the wake of Ronald Acuña Jr.’s torn ACL, however a deal for Robert is as shut as they’ll come to filling these footwear. But when they add even $4 million in common worth to their books, they will go over the second luxury-tax threshold.

Document: 37-26, 2nd in AL Central

Present Heart Fielder: Kyle Isbel

It is a heck of a begin the Royals are off to, however it’s not too quickly for them to be interested by heading off regression on offense.

Notably, they’re attempting to change into the first team since 2013 to hit .304 with runners in scoring place all through a full season. It is unlikely, provided that the leaguewide common is 13 factors decrease now than it was that 12 months.

Heart discipline is nearly as good a spot as any for Kansas Metropolis to hunt a hitting improve. Isbel’s glove works simply wonderful, however he would possibly as nicely be brandishing a rolled-up newspaper on the plate. He has solely a .584 OPS.

For what it is price, Robert has performed nicely at pitcher-friendly Kauffman Stadium. He has six homers there, his second-most at any venue after Assured Charge Subject.

Commerce Proposal: Kansas Metropolis Royals get CF Luis Robert Jr., 3B Yoán Moncada; Chicago White Sox get 3B Cayden Wallace (Royals No. 1), LHP Frank Mozzicato (Royals No. 2), C Blake Mitchell (Royals No. 3)

The issue right here is that Kansas Metropolis’s farm system simply is not nice proper now. That may very well be no biggie if the White Sox are wonderful with shifting Robert in a wage dump like this one, however that is assuming they need payroll aid greater than younger expertise.

Document: 30-33, T-Third in NL West

Present Heart Fielder: Corbin Carroll

Carroll’s struggles are one of many nice mysteries of 2024, however might it’s he is simply not lower out to be an on a regular basis heart fielder?

Here is what has me pondering as a lot:

Coincidence, maybe, however the Diamondbacks even have one other, extra easy excuse to be interested by Robert: Their offense simply plain wants one other bat.

It began robust in April however has since managed solely 3.8 runs per recreation relationship again to April 24. That may place among the many dregs of MLB if it was the staff’s common for the 12 months.

Commerce Proposal: Arizona Diamondbacks get CF Luis Robert Jr.; Chicago White Sox get SS Tommy Troy (Diamondbacks No. 2, MLB No. 89), OF Druw Jones (Diamondbacks No. 3), 1B/3B Ivan Melendez (Diamondbacks No. 5)

This deal works on paper, and it might work in actuality if the White Sox purchased into Jones’ resurgence in 2024 after his professional profession obtained off to a tough begin. However the large prize in Arizona’s system is actually shortstop Jordan Lawlar, and he is possible someplace between untouchable and too useful to alternate for Robert anyway.

Document: 40-21, 1st in AL Central

Present Heart Fielder: Tyler Freeman

The Guardians entered Thursday tied with the Orioles for the MLB lead in scoring at 5.10 runs per recreation. Spectacular…however is it sustainable?

Doubt creeps in whenever you discover Cleveland barely has a greater OPS than Arizona. After which nonetheless extra doubt whenever you see its common with runners in scoring place (.294) is absurdly increased than the overall common (.238).

Like with the Royals, heart discipline is a candidate for a greater hitter if the Guardians search to elongate their lineup. It has solely a .212 common and .298 OBP.

Plus, Robert may very well be useful in holding off the Royals. Apropos of his success at Kauffman Stadium, it isn’t shocking that his 9 homers towards them are his most towards any staff.

Commerce Proposal: Cleveland Guardians get CF Luis Robert Jr.; Chicago White Sox get 1B Kyle Manzardo (Guardians No. 2, MLB No. 60), OF Jaison Chourio (Guardians No. 3, MLB No. 97), 2B Juan Brito (Guardians No. 4)

The White Sox in all probability could not extract outfielder Chase DeLauter from the Guardians, however this bundle can be a more-than-fair Plan B. If something, it is simpler to think about Cleveland balking. That is a number of expertise to ship to an AL Central rival, in spite of everything.

Document: 39-25, 1st in NL West

Present Heart Fielder: Andy Pages

No person has something unhealthy to say concerning the high half of the Dodgers lineup.

The MVP trio of Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman has, as anticipated, been glorious. And within the spots behind them, Will Smith and Teoscar Hernández are each having wonderful years.

However then issues get not so nice, and to say heart discipline has been one of many membership’s offensive liabilities can be placing it flippantly. The place has produced solely a .539 OPS, second-lowest in MLB after solely the St. Louis Cardinals.

That is one space the place Robert might assist. Because the Dodgers have additionally gotten minus-six Defensive Runs Saved from heart discipline, his glove would even be welcome.

Commerce Proposal: Los Angeles Dodgers get CF Luis Robert Jr.; Chicago White Sox get OF Andy Pages (Dodgers No. 1, MLB No. 22), RHP River Ryan (Dodgers No. 4)

Now we’re speaking. Pages is a mission, however he posted large numbers at Triple-A earlier than the Dodgers referred to as him up on April 16. He might step proper into Robert’s footwear on the South Facet.

But when the White Sox need each high quality and amount in a Robert commerce, this would not fairly make the grade. Ryan is a strong prospect in principle, however he is additionally nonetheless within the strategy of coming back from a shoulder damage.

Document: 44-19, 1st in NL East

Present Heart Fielder: Johan Rojas

What do you get for a staff that in any other case has the whole lot, together with a lineup filled with sluggers? One other slugger, in fact, and notably one who can play heart discipline higher than Rojas.

Although Rojas will get the bat to the ball in addition to anybody, he is solely hitting .234 with 5 extra-base hits out of 39 complete hits.

His protection additionally deserves scrutiny. It was a profit in 2023, however this season has seen his Defensive Runs Saved take a 16-run swing within the mistaken route.

Robert ought to thus have two-fold attraction to the Phillies. Possibly even three-fold, if one buys they want one other right-handed bat to account for Nick Castellanos’ ongoing droop.

Commerce Proposal: Philadelphia Phillies get CF Luis Robert Jr.; Chicago White Sox get SS Aidan Miller (Phillies No. 2, MLB No. 40), OF Justin Crawford (Phillies No. 4, MLB No. 58), SS William Bergolla (Phillies No. 9)

Take into account this a reminder that the Phillies even have a superb farm system going for them, but this deal would nonetheless enable them to maintain their No. 1 and No. 3 prospects in right-handers Andrew Painter and Mick Abel.

And but, the White Sox would not be settling. Miller has a future as a power-hitting infielder and Crawford is a speedster within the mildew of his outdated man, Carl. As returns go, this could be thrilling certainly.