The Colorado Rockies’ disastrous season—one that could go down as the worst in MLB history—has quickly overshadowed the fact that it was the Chicago White Sox who held the record for most losses in the modern era just a year ago.
Unfortunately for Chicago, things haven’t gotten much better. The White Sox currently have the second-worst record in baseball, ahead of only the Rockies. Over the past few years, they’ve undergone a major rebuild, dealing away nearly all their key players. One of the few holdovers is center fielder Luis Robert Jr.
Robert has struggled this season, which has lowered his trade value. Still, there’s a strong chance he’ll be dealt, and ESPN’s Jeff Passan has suggested the San Diego Padres could be a potential fit. That raises the question: what might a trade between the White Sox and Padres involving Robert look like?
Padres’ possible trade package for Luis Robert Jr.
Padres acquire: Luis Robert Jr.
White Sox acquire: Braden Nett (Padres’ No. 9 prospect)
The Padres have a glaring hole in left field — arguably the worst situation in the league. Despite boasting star power with Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Dylan Cease, Luis Arraez, and Xander Bogaerts, San Diego has relied on a shaky trio of Jason Heyward, Gavin Sheets, and Brandon Lockridge in left.
Heyward is clearly past his prime, hitting just .176 and currently sidelined with an injury. Lockridge hasn’t offered much production either, and while Sheets has swung the bat well, he’s better suited for first base or DH duties — a fact underscored when he injured himself crashing into the wall against the Pirates.
At 34-24, the Padres have played like contenders despite this significant weakness, but they’ll need to address it soon. Enter Luis Robert Jr. While he’s primarily a center fielder, his athleticism and arm would likely translate well to left, especially alongside Merrill and Tatis in the outfield.
Robert is struggling offensively this season, hitting just .177 — not exactly a clear upgrade. But considering his current environment in Chicago, a change of scenery could spark a turnaround. The 2023 All-Star is a former 38-home-run hitter with elite tools, including top-tier speed and defense. He’s prone to strikeouts but has hit for average in the past, even batting .338 in 2021.
While it’s unlikely Robert returns to his peak form, he still brings value on the bases and in the field — both areas where the Padres could use a boost. He’s a high-risk, high-reward addition with a hefty contract, but the upside is significant. Importantly, acquiring Robert wouldn’t gut San Diego’s farm system, making it a gamble that could pay off big.
Would the White Sox trade Luis Robert Jr.?
The White Sox initiated a major rebuild in 2016, but it only yielded two postseason appearances. In recent years, the team has once again started dismantling the roster, parting ways with players like Garrett Crochet, Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jiménez, Dylan Cease, and others.
However, the rebuild won’t be truly complete until they trade Luis Robert Jr. It’s now evident that Chicago missed their best opportunity to move him—his trade value was significantly higher a year or two ago.
Robert’s contract includes team options of \$20 million for each of the next two seasons. Given his current level of performance, the White Sox are unlikely to exercise those options, so it makes sense for them to trade him while they still can get a decent return.
Robert’s career has been marred by injuries and inconsistent plate discipline, and outside of an outlier season in 2023, his performance has been trending downward. As a result, his trade value is likely to continue declining.
Since this season is already a lost cause for the White Sox, the focus shouldn’t be on improving the big-league roster. Instead, the organization should keep building on what has become one of the strongest farm systems in baseball. Trading Robert could bring back a prospect like Braden Nett—a pitcher who, while not a top-tier talent, has the upside to develop into a reliable starter or bullpen arm at the major league level.