White Sox's Luis Robert Jr. would be worthy trade-deadline risk despite poor numbers

With the Chicago White Sox in the middle of yet another lost season, they figure to be major sellers ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline. 

The most prominent name they might have to sell is outfielder Luis Robert Jr., especially as he has a couple of $20M-per-season team options lurking after this season. 

He might be one of the most interesting names potentially available, and that might be a little hard to believe when you take a quick look at his performance this season.

Simply put, Robert Jr. has had a miserable 2025 season and enters the All-Star break hitting only .189 with a .597 OPS. Both of those numbers are among the worst in the league and make him seem to be more of a liability than highly sought-after trade-deadline addition.

But that's kind of what makes him such an intriguing option. 

Given that performance, and given the White Sox's upcoming decisions with his option years, his value is probably at an all-time low. It might not cost as much to acquire him as it could have in recent seasons. 

That should be even more enticing to potential contenders in need of outfield help (like, say, the Philadelphia Phillies), especially since there is reason to believe Robert Jr. could be due for a bounce back at some point. 

While his overall numbers are poor, Robert Jr. has also been one of the unluckiest hitters in the league this season.

Through Sunday's game, his batting average on balls in play is a dismal .248, which is significantly below his normal career averages. Prior to this season, he had never had a BABIP lower than .310 in a single season, while he owned a .319 mark for his overall career. He's seen a huge drop in that area despite having one of highest hard-hit percentages of his career and the third-highest exit velocity. 

In other words: When he makes contact, he is hitting the ball as hard as he ever has in his career, but he is not getting any positive results out of it. 

At some point, you have to think those numbers are going to improve and some of those hard-hit balls are going to go from loud outs into big hits.  

He also has a significantly larger track record of being a good, productive player than not being one. Even with his poor performance this season, he has averaged 4.3 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) per 162 games in his career and not only possesses a great power/speed combination but is also a very good defensive outfielder. 

Getting him away from the White Sox and onto a contending team that actually has something to play for — with good players around him — might also help make a significant difference. It's the classic "change of scenery" scenario. 

According to MLB insider Jon Heyman on Sunday evening, as many as eight different teams have checked in with the White Sox on Robert Jr., indicating there is at least some sort of a trade market for him. There should be because there is a good chance his second half looks significantly better than the first half of his season.