Subscribe
Follow Us
Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. could be on the trade block as the July 30 MLB deadline approaches, and on Tuesday night, he revealed why he could be such a hot commodity on the hot stove in his return from injury.
During the White Sox's 7-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs, Robert smashed a monstrous 448-foot long home run after missing the last two months with a hip injury.
LUIS ROBERT LOOKS TO BE IN MIDSEASON FORM!
That’s a go-ahead home run right there.#MASCUBANOS 🇨🇺 pic.twitter.com/QYp8d9whq3
— Xavier Sanchez (@Xavier_Sanchez4) June 5, 2024
Robert went 2-for-4 on the evening overall.
In just eight games this season, Robert has gone 8-for-32 with three homers and five RBI.
The 26-year-old originally signed with Chicago as an international free agent back in 2017. He made his big-league debut in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, slashing .233/.302/.436 with 11 long balls and 31 RBI over 227 plate appearances. The following season, Robert played in 68 games and showed significant improvement, slashing .333/.378/.567 with 13 dingers and 43 RBI.
Robert then took a rather significant step back in 2022, registering a slash line of .284/.319/.426 with 12 home runs and 56 RBI across 401 trips to the dish.
Injuries severely limited Robert in 2021 and 2022, as he accumulated just 697 plate appearances combined between the two seasons. However, he finally stayed healthy in 2023, slashing .264/.315/.542 with 38 homers, 36 doubles and 80 RBI over 595 trips to the plate. He also stole 20 bases and earned an All-Star selection.
Robert has definitely had an issue with plate discipline, laying claim to a pedestrian career OBP of .326, but his power (career .502 SLG and .224 ISO) is undeniable.
The White Sox could trade Luis Robert and others
The White Sox are the worst team in baseball by a rather wide margin, so it's no surprise that they are apparently open for business as far as trades are concerned.
Robert is not the only Chicago player who could be on the trade block, either. Electrifying lefty pitcher Garrett Crochet could also be on the move, and you also have to figure that guys like starting pitcher Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham could generate interest, as well.
The problem for the White Sox is that they may not have a whole lot that other ballclubs would want.
I guess catcher Korey Lee could hold some value, and maybe there is a team out there who thinks it can fix the laboring Andrew Benintendi (.514 OPS this season). Chicago may also want to gauge interest in shortstop Paul DeJong, who has hammered nine homers and has historically been very good defensively (although he has struggled with the glove in 2024).
But overall, it's slim pickings outside of Robert and Crochet, both of whom could unquestionably bring back sizeable returns for the White Sox.
Right now, not a single Chicago player boasts an OPS of .800 or better. In fact, three of the squad's regulars are flashing an OPS under .600 (four if you count backstop Martin Maldonado, who splits time with Lee).
Regardless, the White Sox definitely need to sell as many pieces as possible. They won just 61 games last season, and they are on pace to finish with the worst record in baseball this year. They have made just two playoff appearances since 2009 and have not won a playoff series since last winning the World Series in 2005.
