CHICAGO – Major League Baseball’s Trade Deadline arrives in a little more than two months on July 31, a date probably engrained in the mind of White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr..
The 27-year-old has been on high trade alert since early in the offseason and is a near-certainty to be dealt by that date. But during a candid interview prior to Tuesday’s contest against the Mariners at Rate Field, Robert admitted to not thinking about being traded.
Here’s the reason: The five-tool talent, two years removed from turning in one of the most complete season performances in franchise history, is not playing up to his vast potential.
“Right now, as my season is going, I don't think anybody is going to take a chance on me,” said Robert through interpreter Billy Russo. “I just focus on trying to get better. I can't think of anything else.”
Robert featured a .186/.281/.308 slash line through 44 games and 180 plate appearances; that last bit means at the very least he has been healthy, which was a key factor entering 2025. That line is well below career totals of .261/.313/.461, although not too far off his struggles of ‘24 during an injury-plagued season.
Since Spring Training -- and maybe even before -- Robert has had a very pragmatic and straight-forward approach about his game and his fit on the rebuilding White Sox. His $15 million salary in ‘25 represents the finale of a six-year, $50-million deal, with $20 million team options for each of 2026 and ‘27 and a $2 million buyout.
The White Sox don’t have Robert in their long-term plans, partially because his skillset makes him the team’s last trade candidate to potentially bring back a significant return adding to the youthful core. But Robert needs to produce across the board for an extended period to facilitate that move.
“I try to be that player every day. I prepare myself the best way I can to be that player. If at the end of the day the results aren't there, that is something I can't control,” said Robert of returning to All-Star form. “Everybody here works hard to get the results every day. When you are working hard and the results aren't there, you feel a little sad for sure."
“We’ve talked,” said White Sox manager Will Venable of Robert. “As an observer, you see a guy that has one mentality on the bases and in the outfield and that’s an aggressive one and then maybe a little in between at the plate. For me, it’s just about making sure he felt supported.”
There are positives to take away from Robert’s two-month effort. His walk rate is the highest of his six-year-career, while his chase percentage is at its lowest, per Statcast. His 17 stolen bases are tied for the Major League lead, to go with stellar defense.
“I've been stealing a lot of bases just because I have that ability and just trying to make the most of the chances that are on the bases,” Robert said. “There have been few instances where I've been able to do that, especially with the season that I've been having at the plate. But that's something that I enjoy and like I said before, I try to help my team in any way I can."
“He knows where he’s at,” Venable said. “He’s working extremely hard to make adjustments. He’s going to find what he needs to find to have more confidence at the plate.”
At one point late in this 10-minute pregame media scrum, Robert was informed of a prediction made by Ozzie Guillen, the 2005 World Series championship manager and entertaining pre and postgame analyst on CHSN, of Robert’s closeness to taking off on a hot streak. That comment brought a smile to Robert, who appreciated the trust.
Maybe the turnaround for Robert centers upon trusting himself. Maybe it’s about timing.
“It can be a little bit of both,” Robert said. “There are some days where I'm thinking too much and then I'm missing the pitches right in the heart of the strike zone, pitches the pitchers have made there. I feel good in the cage. I feel good throughout my preparation for the game. It's just a matter of the results haven't been there in the games.
“When you are struggling, you think about everything. You overthink stuff. And when you are good, you go to the plate and you don't think anything. You just go up there and do what you're supposed to do."