Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. is trying to only worry about things he can control right now. The White Sox are rumored to want to move him before the MLB trade deadline. Robert insists he's only focused on baseball, as those rumors swirl.
“Everybody has been texting me, asking me about that, all those rumors,” Robert Jr. said through an interpreter, per MLB.com. “This is nothing I can control. I would like to stay here, but if the team decided otherwise, I have to keep playing baseball. If it’s here or not, I have to do what I have to do.”
Robert is working to lift his team out of a horrible slump. Chicago has a 17-50 record on the season, with the worst road record in baseball.
Robert Jr's season in Chicago
Robert has not had a great season so far. The outfielder, like just about everyone else on the roster, is struggling at the plate. Robert has a .192 batting average as of Tuesday, with only two hits combined in his last five games. He has slugged five home runs this season, with his totals on track to be far below where he has been the last several years.
Chicago is also on track to have the worst offensive season in franchise history. The team is trying to bounce back from a 100 loss campaign in 2023, but things look like they may be even worse this year. The team has managed only five total road wins, the worst road record in the league. The club also endured a 14-game losing streak at one point. The White Sox are also on track to have the worst run differential in Major League Baseball in years.
Robert may be heading out the door soon due to these problems. The White Sox are rumored to want to deal him for several players, in a trade similar to what the San Diego Padres did in 2022 for Juan Soto. That was an eight player trade, and something similar may happen this year for Chicago.
“This is the only team I’ve been on, and this is what I know. I like the fans. I like the city. Moving to another team would be like starting from scratch,” Robert added. “I'm not prepared for that.”
Other White Sox issues
The White Sox are also dealing with injuries. Tommy Pham and Eloy Jimenez are both out, and not expected to return until mid June at the earliest. The team has just hit one roadblock after another, and seems light years away from being able to compete with the top teams in the American League. Robert may be putting all the pressure on himself to save this team every night.
The club is not making any sudden moves when it comes to management, though. The team is not expected to fire manager Pedro Grifol mid-season, despite the problems. Grifol has been under fire, however, from many analysts and fans including former manager Ozzie Guillen.
The White Sox try to get a victory when they play the Seattle Mariners Tuesday. The first pitch is scheduled for 9:40 Eastern. Robert will surely be doing everything he can to help his club.
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