Given the disastrous 2024 season, a Luis Robert trade is almost certainly on the table for the Chicago White Sox this summer. It is worth noting that Robert has team options that could keep him in Chicago through the 2027 season.
That's why he's not among the obvious trade candidates to the White Sox this summer. But this does not mean that trading him is out of the question.
Should the White Sox trade Luis Robert or not?
Even with more than a month until the trade deadline, several teams have expressed interest in Robert. This is part of what forces the White Sox to make the decision. He would also be one of the most attractive trade deadline candidates in baseball if the White Sox make him available.
Let's take a look at Chicago's predicament from every angle and determine whether or not a Luis Robert deal is the right move.
the situation
As previously mentioned, Luis Robert's contract will likely run through the 2027 season. He is making $12.5 million this season and will make $15 million in 2025.
The White Sox then have club options for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons. If he practices, he will make $20 million in each of those seasons. But if the White Sox decline the 2026 option, he will become a free agent after the 2025 season.
Reasons to trade it
The obvious reason to trade Robert this summer is that the White Sox aren't going anywhere. Given the season they had, It will be a struggle for the White Sox to turn things around next season. If paying him $20 million in both 2026 and 2027 seems like too much, now is a good time to trade him because he won't be a rental player, allowing Chicago to get more back in the deal for him.
Despite some mixed numbers this year after spending nearly two months on the IL, Robert has proven that he has a lot of power in his bat. He was also an All-Star last year and is a former Gold Glove winner, so the White Sox could certainly attract interest on the trade market if they make him available. This could allow Chicago to get some good opportunities back for him and speed up the club's rebuilding process.
Reasons for preserving it
Since he is under team control through the 2027 season, the White Sox have to consider the possibility of keeping Robert. Even if he loses this year and next, if Chicago can get back into contention by 2026, it could be worth keeping Robert. As a 26-year-old coming off a year in which he was a star and Silver Slugger winner, he is the type of player the White Sox could build.
Based on some of the contracts that All-Star-caliber players are getting on the free agent market, paying Robert $20 million per year in 2026 and 2027 isn't outrageous. The White Sox would also run the risk of not getting full value for him if they trade him now.
Robert missed two months earlier this year due to injury and has not had the opportunity to settle in and perform at the level he can play at. If he ends up having a strong second half, his trade value this winter could be higher than it is now. For a team to trade for him, it would be akin to signing a free agent to a three-year, $55 million deal, which is a deal if Robert is anywhere near All-Star level.
Judgment
The truth is, if the White Sox get a good offer for Robert, they shouldn't hesitate to trade him. Chicago's farm system is middle of the pack at best, and it will likely take at least another two or three years for the White Sox to become a solid playoff contender. This means replacing Robert to help the farm system and speed up the rebuilding process.
Fortunately, the White Sox have the luxury of waiting until the offseason to trade him if Robert doesn't perform well between now and the trade deadline. They don't have to force themselves to accept a lackluster business offer. However, the White Sox should certainly be willing to listen to any trade offers for Robert.
