It’s not that Luis Robert Jr. is dogging it. He’s not even mailing it in—it just feels like the White Sox ecosystem has emotionally cooked him, suffocating yet another highly talented player.
And really, can you blame him?
The man looks lost. He’s also lost, as in 101 games, then 121 games, and likely another 110 this year if he actually makes it through the rest of the season in a White Sox uniform. That’s close to 350 losses since the start of 2023. You think that doesn’t eat away at a player’s soul?
At some point, even a 75-win team starts to look like a luxury cruise. A .500 team? That’s baseball heaven. A change of scenery like that could make the game feel fun again. Because if there’s one thing we all know—whether you’re an outfielder or someone stuck in a cubicle—you’re a lot more effective at your job when you’re not emotionally drained by it.
Regardless of income, we’re all still human. But this isn’t a pity party.
By the end of July, Robert will have already earned roughly two-thirds of his $15 million salary for the season. That leaves around $5 million on the table for any team looking to trade for him, essentially a $5 million bet on whether he can bounce back to something resembling his 2023 form.
Even if he doesn’t hit, you’re getting plus defense and speed. At worst, he’s a high-end fourth outfielder. At best? He flashes 30/30 talent on a team that isn’t circling the drain.
The real kicker becomes the prospect cost. His production at the plate isn’t getting the White Sox a top-100 guy in return. Realistically, we’re talking about a team’s 7th- to 10th-best prospect—give or take, depending on how strong the system is. Mileage varies.
Now, if the Sox kick in a few million to offset the cost, it becomes a no-brainer flier for a contender—a cheap, high-upside gamble on a 27-year-old with elite tools and some bad luck.
Robert’s value has dipped into “prove it” territory—not unlike Yoán Moncada, who didn’t exactly rebuild his stock last year but still landed a one-year, $5 million deal from the Angels. Sometimes, teams bet on talent and name recognition, not recent production. And the Angels, by the way, are only a game below .500.
Which, for a guy coming from the White Sox, is baseball heaven—especially in Southern California. Moncada’s probably enjoying it quite a bit, even while hanging out on the injured list.
Additionally, the White Sox could be the team to take a one-year flyer on Robert in the offseason at a significantly reduced rate. But like I said, he’s probably ready to move on—and honestly, that’s perhaps what’s best for all parties involved.
White Sox general manager Chris Getz has two paths: let Robert finish the season quietly in Chicago, or take the best offer and send him out of baseball purgatory.
Whether the front office sees the writing on the wall or stares at it like it’s abstract art will tell us a great deal about their approach to the offseason. In my eyes, one thing is for sure: exercising his $20 million team option is a non-starter for the White Sox.
Whatever happens next, it probably won’t be boring. And with the deadline looming, the clock’s ticking fast.
And if Luis Robert Jr. gets out?
Maybe baseball starts to feel like baseball again—for him, and for the rest of us watching.
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