Luis Robert Jr. is no stranger to having his name swirl in trade conversations. He has been on that carousel for over a year and a half, yet has remained in a White Sox uniform. He has stayed put for several reasons, most notably because he hasn’t performed to his standards as of late.
2025 has been more of the same for Robert Jr. so far. He isn’t hitting and a recent hamstring issue has landed him on the injured list. His trade value certainly is not what it once was, and the White Sox missed the boat on trading him at his peak value. That said, he still offers a variety of skills that could be useful to contending teams ahead of the July 31st deadline.
Defense
Defense has always been an integral part of what has made Robert Jr. special in the past. He has a Gold Glove award to his name and has consistently been one of the better defensive center fielders in the league since his debut. That aspect of his game has not tailed off. Per Baseball Savant, he ranks in the 86th percentile in both range (OAA) and arm value and the 58th percentile in arm strength this season. Quality defense is a common theme of most contending teams, and Robert Jr. provides that at one of the most premium positions on the field.
Speed
Speed is another key part of Robert Jr.’s game, and he still excels in that area. He ranks in the 91st percentile in sprint speed this season, his best mark since his 2020 rookie campaign. He has also stolen 22 bases in just 73 games this season. Despite several lower body injuries, Robert Jr. is still a game changer on the bases.
Lefty Masher
Even though Robert Jr.’s .185 batting average and .584 OPS are the worst marks of his career, he is still mashing left-handed pitching. In 72 plate appearances against southpaws this season, he is hitting .268/.406/.464 with two doubles and three home runs. It is a relatively small sample, but Robert Jr. has historically always hit left-handers well with a career line of .297/.372/.507. The 2025 season has been no exception.
Unique Contract Structure
Robert Jr. has a $15 million salary for the 2025 season and a pair of $20 million team options for 2026 and 2027. Not too long ago, it felt like a foregone conclusion that the White Sox would pick up those options. While that is no longer the case, his contract structure could be appealing to contenders.
Given that he has team options, whoever acquires Robert Jr. could view him as a longer-term solution instead of a rental. Should he turn things around elsewhere, a $20 million salary for the next two seasons suddenly would feel team-friendly. And if he doesn’t get back on track, the acquiring team can let him go at the end of this season for just a $2 million buyout. It is a low-risk, high-reward proposition.
Age And Track Record
As poorly as Robert Jr. has performed recently, he is still just 27 years old. He also has a track record of being productive, with three different seasons of at least two fWAR to his name. Even with his extensive injury history, Robert Jr. is still in his physical prime and was a star-level player as recently as 2023. Acquiring him would not be gambling on a washed-up player who is unlikely to recapture his glory days, but instead offering a young player a chance of scenery in a winning environment.
Potential Landing Spots
The million-dollar question is which teams could use this version of Robert Jr. Surprisingly, there are more logical fits than one would think. The Phillies, Mets, Giants, Padres, Tigers, Brewers, and Cardinals have also gotten minimal production out of their center fielders this season. Teams like the Orioles, Braves, and Diamondbacks could also make sense as landing spots for Robert Jr. should they get back into the playoff position race and look to buy. Many of those same teams could also use reinforcements against left-handed pitchers, which is Robert Jr.’s specialty at this point.
The Luis Robert Jr. Dilemma
In recent years, Luis Robert Jr. has not performed like the player he can be. There is no denying that, and his trade value is lower than ever as a result. That said, his speed, defense, performance against left-handed pitchers, flexible contract structure, and his age and track record should all serve as appealing aspects of his profile to a contending team. He will likely be in a different team’s uniform by the end of the month as both he and the White Sox organization look to benefit from a parting of ways.
