"One of the most important offseason decisions for the White Sox has been whether to exercise a $20MM option on center fielder Luis Robert Jr. or pay him a $2MM buyout, though it seems they've generally already made up their mind. As soon as the Sox opted not to trade him at the deadline, it seemed likely Robert would be back in 2026 as opposed to bought out for no return."
"With Robert all but confirmed to be done for the 2025 campaign due to a hamstring strain, his numbers appear locked in. After slashing .224/.278/.379 (84 wRC+) with 14 homers in 100 games last year, Robert produced a nearly identical .223/.297/.364 line (82 wRC+) and slugged 14 homers in 110 games in 2025. Between that apparent lack of progress and Robert's continued injury woes,"
"Despite his eerily similar (and disappointing) numbers, however, digging a little deeper into Robert's 2025 numbers actually reveals reason for optimism. He stole ten more bases this year than last, going 33-for-41 as opposed to 2024's 23-for-29. Robert's defense is also showing signs of a rebound, as he jumped from a Fielding Run Value of 0 in 2024 to a +7 figure thi"
The White Sox endured another difficult season with 95 losses and limited expectation to contend in 2026. Emerging young players provided some relief for fans, but roster improvement remains uncertain. The key offseason decision centers on whether to pay Luis Robert Jr. a $20MM option or a $2MM buyout, with front office signals indicating he will return. Robert is expected to miss the remainder of 2025 with a hamstring strain. His surface offensive numbers were nearly identical to 2024, but deeper indicators show increased stolen bases and a rebound in defensive metrics, offering cautious optimism.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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