Robert shakes off trade rumors as White Sox (4 HRs) take series with Phils

CHICAGO -- If Wednesday night’s series finale against the Phillies was in fact the last game with the White Sox for Luis Robert Jr., then a 9-3 victory certainly was one to remember for the five-tool talent in center field.

The South Siders have played memorable baseball since the All-Star break, posting an 8-4 record and scoring 84 runs in the process (second only to the Orioles’ 89 in the American League). They hit four more home runs while locking down their third series win of the second half, meaning the offense has knocked out 21 over a 10-game home run streak.

But let’s go back to the Robert situation. With teams interested in his on-field services gathering as much information as possible, the soon-to-be 27-year-old knocked out three hits, scored one run and picked up his 27th stolen base.

Does Robert feel a trade will be coming prior to the 5 p.m. CT Deadline on Thursday?

“I don’t know,” Robert said.

Did he give any consideration to Wednesday’s victory being his last with the White Sox?

Robert smiled while answering, “September,” meaning the end of the 2025 season, again adding, “I don’t know.”

As for whether these ongoing rumors, which really began at this time last season, are tough to play through or if he’s motivated by trade interest, Robert added through interpreter Billy Russo, “I can’t control that. It’s in the hands of the team. Honestly, I just try not to think about it.”

Will Venable, in his first year managing Robert, continues to sing the praises of the hard-working competitor.

“He just continues to make an impact, you know,” Venable said. “He wants to be out there, he wants to play. He's playing extremely hard. He's been going as hard as his body will allow him and really pushing it. So to have a guy of his talent, to want to be out there like he does, it's a big part of why this club is playing well.”

Aside from Robert’s effort, this series finale against the Phillies represented rebuild perfection.

Perfection, minus the 3 hour, 35 minute rain-delayed start and rookie second baseman Chase Meidroth getting hit on the right thumb by a Taijuan Walker pitch in the fifth and leaving in the top of the sixth. X-rays were negative and Meidroth is day to day.

That rebuild component featured rookies Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero and Colson Montgomery going deep. Teel’s second career homer also was his first at home, while Montgomery (No. 4 prospect) connected for his fifth long ball since the All-Star break and the fifth since he switched to torpedo bats. Quero went the opposite way, completing a seven-run uprising in the seventh.

It was the third game in franchise history in which three rookies hit a homer. It was the first since Sept. 26, 2004, vs. the Royals, when Joe Borchard, Ross Gload and Wilson Valdez connected.

“There's so much talent on this team, and to be able to positively impact this game is important to me and it's important to the guys,” Teel said. “So it's a great feeling. It feels amazing."

“We’ve been doing the little things we weren’t able to do in the first half,” Robert said. “We’ve been productive and the results are there.”

Lenyn Sosa, who replaced Meidroth, delivered the go-ahead hit in the seventh, connecting off Phillies reliever Max Lazar with a single to right to score Mike Tauchman from second. All seven White Sox hitters reached base with hits in the seventh against Lazar, but Josh Rojas was thrown out at home on Tauchman’s single to center.

Miguel Vargas also homered off Lazar, with his three-run shot giving him 100 career RBIs. Mike Vasil earned the victory, fanning three over 4 scoreless innings, after Tyler Alexander allowed two runs in 3 1/3 as the opener.

Since the All-Star break, the White Sox have swept three games at the Pirates, won three-game sets at the Rays and against the Phillies, and lost a three-game series at home to the Cubs. Despite a 40-69 record, does this two-week performance mean the White Sox are a good team? Teel went one step further.

“Yeah, I think this is a great team. Like I said before, we have a lot of talent, but we also got a lot of fight,” Teel said. “I would say those are the main reasons."

Alexander replaced Adrian Houser as Wednesday’s starter, with the right-handed Houser squarely on the trade block. Will this team still reach this latest lofty level without Houser or Robert, following Wednesday’s trade of outfielder Austin Slater? More will be known in Anaheim following Thursday’s off-day.