Inside of six weeks until the Major League Baseball trade deadline, we're sure to start hearing about notable names to be had before they can't be anymore. And with the Chicago White Sox mired in an awful season within a listless rebuild, they're sure to grab the attention of virtually everyone.
The Sox are a team loaded with trade candidates. The ambiguous stage of their rebuild means it's not only the one-year deals, either. Sure, names like Paul DeJong or Steven Wilson or Mike Clevinger (when healthy) are sure to garner attention. But those with more extensive team control don't seem to be entirely off limits either. That includes Garrett Crochet and, more importantly for our purposes, Luis Robert.
Chicago's centerfielder broke out as a rookie back in 2020, but it was his 2023 campaign that saw him fully realize his potential. He hit a reasonable .264, but recorded 38 homers and 20 steals. It's that duality that makes him one of the more enticing players to potentially be had at this year's deadline. Even if 2024 hasn't been as kind to him.
Robert missed time this year with a hip injury, adding to an extensive list of health woes he's experienced in just four years. His sheet is full of wrist and various lower body injuries. Since returning, though, he's continued to make hard contact, ISO at a strong clip, and is actually walking more. He's run into brutal luck (.118 BABIP), but the core of his previous excellence is still very much there since his return.
It's that ideal version of Robert that makes him a strong target for the Dodgers. But would such a pursuit be more luxury than necessity?
Andy Pages has assumed the role of starting centerfielder since James Outman's demotion to Triple-A. He's been largely fine, with flashes of brilliance mixed in. His offensive profile isn't that dissimilar to Robert, either. There's plenty of strikeout against little walk, but with power to compensate. What sets the two apart from each other is in the defense.
By Fielding Run Value, Pages has been exactly average in center (within a very small sample by defensive standards). By Defensive Runs Saved, he's been below (-3). An acquisition of Robert, who posted a FRV of 13 last year and is well above average for his career, would absolutely fortify the defense on the outfield grass. The team could kick Pages back to the a corner, where he was more effective with the glove (5 DRS). You're then relegating a scuffling Jason Heyward to a full-time bench role for which he might be better suited at this point.
That's all to say nothing of the fact that Robert could, theoretically, be in Los Angeles through 2027. His contract includes a pair of club options for 2026 & 2027. The Dodgers & White Sox have also done recent business, with the team acquiring Lance Lynn & Joe Kelly just last year. There's a familiarity that shouldn't be overlooked when you're discussing the potential for a larger scale deal.
Of course, the Dodgers could very well decide it's a luxury and instead pursue an infielder (like DeJong) at less prohibitive cost. Mookie Betts is out for six to eight weeks. Max Muncy is struggling to recover from his oblique injury. And Gavin Lux is struggling to perform at the plate. That might represent more of an immediate need than the outfield, especially if Outman is able to work his way back to the top level.
Nevertheless, this is exactly the type of big ticket move we've come to expect from the Dodgers. Even with the cost attached, the chance to add another bopper and lengthen the lineup even further upon the return of Betts & Muncy would be massive. Given the implications it could carry beyond 2024 as well, there's massive potential for the Dodgers to look upon such a deal favorably, even if it's not absolute necessity at this point.