White Sox asking for "top prospects" for Robert

[TheFutureIsNear]

18 hours ago, Balta1701 said:

Here's where you and I disagree - I think he was an oft-injured player most of his career. That's how I describe his 2021 and 2022. He was a star in 2023, until he was injured. He was oft-injured in 2024, and for the first time - really bad at baseball. 

To put this in another view, in hindsight, if the White Sox had traded Moncada for those 2 level of players in 2022, would that make the White Sox better today? I would say yes. And fwiw, the utility guy also stole 40 bases last year, so there's some other skill to that player too.

 

Apples to oranges. Our payroll is so low that Robert’s contract isn’t hindering a single thing. And our roster is so bad that adding prospects that don’t have the potential to make a big impact is almost meaningless. 
 

We shouldn’t be looking to move Robert to save money and potentially get slightly closer to mediocre.

[SoxBlanco]

2 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

No.

Coward. 

[southsider2k5]

11 minutes ago, SoxBlanco said:

Coward. 

Cool.

[Balta1701]

1 hour ago, TheFutureIsNear said:

Apples to oranges. Our payroll is so low that Robert’s contract isn’t hindering a single thing. And our roster is so bad that adding prospects that don’t have the potential to make a big impact is almost meaningless. 
 

We shouldn’t be looking to move Robert to save money and potentially get slightly closer to mediocre.

But like Moncada, another bad season from Robert or another major injury and you seriously consider turning down the option on his contract. The end result would then be saving money and having nothing to show for him long term.

 

[Balta1701]

3 hours ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Yeah the Sox would have to come down on their price and Cam Smith would have to be in deal.

Robert + Benintendi to Houston for Smith?

[Timmy U]

2 hours ago, TheFutureIsNear said:

Apples to oranges. Our payroll is so low that Robert’s contract isn’t hindering a single thing. And our roster is so bad that adding prospects that don’t have the potential to make a big impact is almost meaningless. 

Agreed, but there is one more important point: Sox system is very full right now. Easy to add elite talent to one of the teams but the rotations and line ups are very crowded everywhere above the Complex league. If you add 40/45 type players who are not ready for AA, they wouldn’t have any place to play. The rotations of Birmingham and W-S are full. Position player group at W-S and Kanny also full.

[Chicago White Sox]

10 minutes ago, Timmy U said:

Agreed, but there is one more important point: Sox system is very full right now. Easy to add elite talent to one of the teams but the rotations and line ups are very crowded everywhere above the Complex league. If you add 40/45 type players who are not ready for AA, they wouldn’t have any place to play. The rotations of Birmingham and W-S are full. Position player group at W-S and Kanny also full.

Yup, it’s really diminishing returns outside of a few spots.  Quality over quantity is key at this point and that may prove challenging right now with Robert.

[Whisox05]

 

 

[JUSTgottaBELIEVE]

1 hour ago, Whisox05 said:

 

 

Freeland and Ryan please and yes I know Ryan will miss the 2025 season

[Tnetennba]

Getz trading with LAD. What could possibly go wrong...

[Squirmin' for Yermin]

4 hours ago, JUSTgottaBELIEVE said:

Freeland and Ryan please and yes I know Ryan will miss the 2025 season

Ill take Freelans

[Squirmin' for Yermin]

Wow… just look at “stats”…. I want Morales from LAD

[Lyle Moooton]

I want Zyhir Hope. It’s who I was hoping we’d get for Crochet, but maybe we can talk them into it for Robert. A guy can dream. 

[JUSTgottaBELIEVE]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/dodgers-exploring-alternatives-to-teoscar-hernandez.html

 

Robert piece is interesting as I’m surprised about the speculation that Robert could be less pricey to acquire than Suzuki in a trade.

[WhiteSox2023]

1 hour ago, JUSTgottaBELIEVE said:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/dodgers-exploring-alternatives-to-teoscar-hernandez.html

 

Robert piece is interesting as I’m surprised about the speculation that Robert could be less pricey to acquire than Suzuki in a trade.

Well, they are both owed basically the same money over the next three years but there are opt outs in Robert’s deal.  But Robert plays CF while Suzuki is a corner outfielder and three years older.  However, Suzuki has stayed healthy and has put up an .840+ OPS in back-to-back seasons while Robert is always injured.  I wouldn’t be too shocked if Suzuki does have more trade value.  It would be no contest if Robert wasn’t perpetually injured and had such a horseshit year last season.

Edited 18 hours ago by WhiteSox2023

[oldsox]

I'm trying to re-imagine the White Sox outfield without Robert in CF. ERA's will go straight up. They'll start the season with rosy-cheeked Dom Fletcher out there, and that will be a defensive disaster without any offense.  Then, what is Plan B?  I can only guess.  Colas?  Then there is Plan C.  Probably an extra middle infielder who can't hit well enough to play the infield for Sox. Plan D then would be another try with Fletcher.  Oops, there goes another mis-play. I know one pitcher on the 2024 Sox who won't miss him. Now we're up to Plan E.  Well, we have two guys in the minors who can handle the gig defensively, Burke and Zavala.  Might as well bring one of them up.

Edited 11 hours ago by oldsox

[JUSTgottaBELIEVE]

38 minutes ago, oldsox said:

I'm trying to re-imagine the White Sox outfield without Robert in CF. ERA's will go straight up. They'll start the season with rosy-cheeked Dom Fletcher out there, and that will be a defensive disaster without any offense.  Then, what is Plan B?  I can only guess.  Colas?  Then there is Plan C.  Probably an extra middle infielder who can't hit well enough to play the infield for Sox. Plan D then would be another try with Fletcher.  Oops, there goes another mis-play. I know one pitcher on the 2024 Sox who won't mis him. Now we're up to Plan E.  Well, we have two guys in the minors who can handle the gig defensively, Burke and Zavala.  Might as well bring one of them up.

Why not sign Harrison Bader? He’ll be cheap and he’s a better defender than Robert.

[Chicago White Sox]

With the Phillies signing Kepler and trading prospects for Luzardo, it feels like a Robert trade is probably Reds or bust IMO.  I do think there are some different combinations that could work there.  Otherwise, I feel like you probably have to hold him to July.  I could see the Phillies coming back to the table then given how rough their offense looks right now.  And obviously other teams will have OF or CF specific needs eventually.

[WhiteSox2023]

1 hour ago, oldsox said:

I'm trying to re-imagine the White Sox outfield without Robert in CF. ERA's will go straight up. They'll start the season with rosy-cheeked Dom Fletcher out there, and that will be a defensive disaster without any offense.  Then, what is Plan B?  I can only guess.  Colas?  Then there is Plan C.  Probably an extra middle infielder who can't hit well enough to play the infield for Sox. Plan D then would be another try with Fletcher.  Oops, there goes another mis-play. I know one pitcher on the 2024 Sox who won't miss him. Now we're up to Plan E.  Well, we have two guys in the minors who can handle the gig defensively, Burke and Zavala.  Might as well bring one of them up.

The Sox might win 54 games instead of 50 with Robert around next season.  I’m not sweating him being traded.

[SoCalChiSox]

11 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

With the Phillies signing Kepler and trading prospects for Luzardo, it feels like a Robert trade is probably Reds or bust IMO.  I do think there are some different combinations that could work there.  Otherwise, I feel like you probably have to hold him to July.  I could see the Phillies coming back to the table then given how rough their offense looks right now.  And obviously other teams will have OF or CF specific needs eventually.

Kepler is supposed to be their everyday LF, so theoretically they should still be in for Robert. I bet Caba is someone Getz wanted though and they moved him for Luzardo so yeah that could complicate it, but I suspect PHI probably wasn't going to give up both Caba and Crawford for Robert anyway.

Crawford plus a lower end prospect still might be a viable deal. 

[WhiteSox2023]

15 minutes ago, SoCalChiSox said:

Kepler is supposed to be their everyday LF, so theoretically they should still be in for Robert. I bet Caba is someone Getz wanted though and they moved him for Luzardo so yeah that could complicate it, but I suspect PHI probably wasn't going to give up both Caba and Crawford for Robert anyway.

Crawford plus a lower end prospect still might be a viable deal. 

Brandon Marsh in CF.  He was worth 3 WAR last year.  I think Robert to the Phillies is dead.

 

Edited 10 hours ago by WhiteSox2023

[JUSTgottaBELIEVE]

56 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

With the Phillies signing Kepler and trading prospects for Luzardo, it feels like a Robert trade is probably Reds or bust IMO.  I do think there are some different combinations that could work there.  Otherwise, I feel like you probably have to hold him to July.  I could see the Phillies coming back to the table then given how rough their offense looks right now.  And obviously other teams will have OF or CF specific needs eventually.

Phillies were dead as soon as they signed Kepler. Reds, Dodgers, and Astros are the top 3 suitors imo.

[SoCalChiSox]

Get Freeland and Hope from LAD

[PaleAleSox]

7 hours ago, oldsox said:

I'm trying to re-imagine the White Sox outfield without Robert in CF. ERA's will go straight up. They'll start the season with rosy-cheeked Dom Fletcher out there, and that will be a defensive disaster without any offense.  Then, what is Plan B?  I can only guess.  Colas?  Then there is Plan C.  Probably an extra middle infielder who can't hit well enough to play the infield for Sox. Plan D then would be another try with Fletcher.  Oops, there goes another mis-play. I know one pitcher on the 2024 Sox who won't miss him. Now we're up to Plan E.  Well, we have two guys in the minors who can handle the gig defensively, Burke and Zavala.  Might as well bring one of them up.

He won't be out there anyway. I'm sure he will be hurt by game 25.

[WestEddy]

I don't know if I should start a new thread to announce this, but I have changed my thinking, and want the Sox to hold out for a better return that reflects Robert's true value. I don't know who made the argument, but we're actually flush on 35-40 FV prospects. We need to start amassing the heavy hitters, 50+ dudes. Robert can bring that back if a team blinks. 

If Robert gets injured again, or otherwise tanks his value, I'm not missing another couple William Bergolas or Jemal Perezes.