The Reds have resumed trade discussions for outfielder Luis Robert Jr., with the Mets also listed as a possible suitor and other teams linked earlier in the offseason. Robert is under contract for $20 million next season, and the White Sox may be willing to pay roughly half that to facilitate a deal; a matching club option exists for 2027. Chicago would seek a package of controllable talent in return and did not treat Robert as a pure salary dump. Cincinnati's offense ranked 14th in scoring and was eight percentage points below park-adjusted league average, and the club pursued Kyle Schwarber without reallocating that projected salary. Cincinnati has TJ Friedl in center but lacks a regular left-field option; Robert would upgrade outfield defense despite inconsistent hitting since his 38-homer season two years ago.
"The Reds have yet to upgrade a lineup that ranked 14th in scoring despite playing half its games at Great American Ball Park. Their park-adjusted offense was eight percentage points below league average. That tied them with the Angels and Rangers for fifth-worst in MLB. Cincinnati made a run at Kyle Schwarber but reportedly viewed the Ohio native as a unique free agent. There's no indication they're going to reallocate the $25MM annual salary that they offered Schwarber elsewhere on the free agent market."
"Cincinnati has a quality center fielder in TJ Friedl. They don't have an everyday option in left, where Friedl's below-average arm strength would be less of a concern. Robert would certainly upgrade the outfield defense, though it's less clear whether he's a consistent enough hitter to be Cincinnati's marquee offseason pickup. He has been a well below-average hitter since his 38-homer campaign two years a"
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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