GLENDALE, Ariz. – On one hand, finishing his career with the team that shelled out a $26 million bonus in 2017 to sign him as a top Cuban prospect would be “beautiful,” White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. said Monday.
On the other hand, Robert knows where the rebuilding Sox are at, coming off 222 losses in the last two seasons with Robert patrolling center field most of the time. Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf will have no qualms about trimming Robert’s $15 million salary (with $20 million club options in 2026 and 2027). He was discussed in trade talks in the offseason and probably will be during spring training.
If a deal isn’t done, talks could continue up to the mid-season trade deadline. Robert is well aware.
“This is my team right now,” Robert said through translator Billy Russo on the first full-squad workout day. “I’m just getting ready to fight for this team. If the moment comes when I have to move and play for another team, well, we’ll see.”
You have to wonder why Robert would want to stay, knowing the Sox won’t compete with a roster that, depending on your view, looks even thinner now than a year ago.
There is no Garrett Crochet, Erick Fedde, Michael Kopech, Paul DeJong or Tommy Pham. Offseason additions were minimal. The Opening Day starter is uncertain, as is most of the infield with a rookie who struggled in the minor leagues last season, Colson Montgomery, getting every chance to make the team out of camp.
“This has been my team throughout my whole professional career in the U.S., right?” Robert said. “It would be beautiful to have experienced playing for just one team, the team that gave me the opportunity to make my dream come true and the team that I’m trying to help pass this moment and hopefully play for when we are ready to compete.
“That would be a really beautiful story. But that’s something I can’t control.”
Fellow Cuban Jose Abreu also always said he wanted to finish his career with the Sox. Abreu lasted nine years before signing with the Astros. This would be Robert’s sixth season after averaging only 103 games a year since playing 56 of 60 in the abbreviated 2020 season, his rookie year.
Injuries are the bugaboo, and therein lies the key element of Robert’s value in trade talks. Suitors would be banking on getting the 2023 All-Star version of Robert who played 145 games and batted .264/.315/.542 with 38 games.
A second hip flexor injury limited Robert to 100 games last season, when he batted .224/.278/.379 with 14 homers and 23 stolen bases. So it might behoove the Sox to let the season unfold and bank on Robert being healthy, laying off bad pitches and hiking his value.
Robert chased more bad pitches last season, but hitting coach Marcus Thames doesn’t want him to lose an aggressive approach.
“There’s a thin line when it comes to that,” Thames said. “You can talk to guys about making sure you get your pitch but you also want to be aggressive. Guys that walk are ready to get pitches in their zone and they lay off the junk. When you’re on time to do damage in your zone that’s when you lay off the bad pitches.
“He has to make sure he’s on the attack so he can lay off the other stuff.”
Getting Robert off his feet by using him occasionally as a designated hitter could help him stay healthy, but Robert said he wants to play the outfield every day.
“Once I come back from the injuries, I feel very good,” he said. “I don’t have anything to hold me back. For whatever reason, those injuries have happened in the first month of the season when it’s cold. Then I will probably have to adjust a little bit my game, that first month, because it’s cold and you have to make some changes.
Robert said that would entail being “smarter, run when I need to run. Knowing the situation of the game, when is the best time for me to push a little bit and try to help the team. Just doing that, being smarter.”