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You guys that want to hang onto Robert while this team sucks baffle me. Why? What's the point? I don't think they would trade him, but if they got their socks blown off by an offer why would it be a hard no? Will this team contend for a championship in 2024? Not a chance. Will they contend for a championship in 2025? Highly unlikely. What about 2026? Probably not, maybe. At this point in time we have Robert for one more season, and if he continues to get better you can kiss his ass goodbye as he wont be getting a 350+ million dollar contract to play here.

I listened to Fegan’s interview to the extent that I could at work and got the following from it: - Sox aren’t done, they could still deal Middleton since he’s on an expiring deal. - He would be surprised if the core (Jimenez, Anderson and Cease) were traded. The Sox are in the unique spot where there aren’t many sellers who get value for expected performance from players. You could get as much for Cease now if he was performing at Cy Young levels next year. He doesn’t think they will deal him given their rotation next year. - Other teams see Kopech like a reliever, but the Sox need him as a starter. - Contending in 2024 is not realistic with where they are at with AA players, lack of talent at AAA, not doling out large contracts to free agents. - After the deadline there needs to be a clear message sent on the direction of the team. - He has not heard anything that there will be accountability for the direction of the team within the front office and does not get the sense that anyone else outside of the leadership structure in place that is pulling the strings.

People wanting to sell Robert are insane to me

0% of the board wants to punt the next 4 years. That’s what you have always failed to understand in your blind optimism of the White Sox. We just have no confidence this front office can put together anything that would be considered a “consistent contender” because…there is no history to tell us they can.

I can't argue that. I can only argue that having Luis Robert play center field for the White Sox for the next 3-4 years while they wallow in mediocrity is not good for the future of this franchise. Same goes for Dylan Cease, not trading him is going to be a massive mistake.

Because Rick Hahn shouldn't be trading him. Simple as.

Problem is—they have such a bad record of identifying talent that the pieces they get back for Robert would likely NOT get them back to the playoffs. Or they would mishandle them like all the other “can’t miss talent” we’ve assembled. Robert was a win for them—a guy who actually worked out. Those players should be especially valuable to our franchise since they don’t come around often—and the high-caliber players won’t sign with us as FAs. Yes—you’d get a haul but, it’s highly likely that “haul” will bust too, and we’ll just lose out on Robert in addition to that. He’s about the only thing this team has going for them. I just don’t like the idea of “at least you get SOMETHING for him” when we all know deep down that “something” is bound to fail.

I know I keep saying this, but I just don’t see any indication at all that this org is intending to rebuild. The only thing theyve done is concede 2023. All the players they traded are pending free agents. I don’t think they have the nuts for another rebuild. There’s no argument that could possibly justify NOT cleaning out the FO first, and there’s nothing the current FO can say about how they’d do it differently this time around. I truly don’t see any other path than “half-ass contend every season” ad nauseam until the firing squad finally comes. I think RH is going to get one more chance and a $30M offseason budget to make it work, business as usual. It’s unquestionably the right baseball move to rebuild, but there’s zero incentive for the current leadership to do it. They’ll roll the dice again and deal with the outcome when it happens.

One small difference that has to be considered, re: Cease vs Robert and trading them. There are sadly, special considerations that are in play since it is the organization it is: 1) We won't sign a pitcher long term 2) We won't sign a Boras client long term Those 2 points alone, are the biggest arguments for trading Cease now, vs in 2 years.

Their ongoing commitment to self made obstacles is something to behold. Incredibly shortsighted and stubborn organization.

Thank you. Our fan base is sometimes as nutty as the front office with their theories.

Its insane, absolutely insane. There is no pitching for next year, even when you include Cease. They aren't going to go out and sign two high end starting pitchers. The team as currently constructed is about to lose 100 games. How can they fool anyone into believing that they can compete next year or even the year after that when we are going to have a worse roster than the current 95-100 loss roster? The total lack of accountability in this franchise is unacceptable. Its embarrassing.

It's the right baseball move to pick a direction and go all in on that direction. The problem is, the Sox FO, which includes ownership, are all in on half measures. The path to contend next year is going to require spending money and making ballsy trades (now that they traded some pieces off). If you rebuild, it also requires ballsy trades, but a lot less money. They're not going to do either. And they'll continue to cite something that happened 15-20 years ago to justify decisions. The Sox are doing exactly what JR stated is always the plan - just give your fans some hope, enough to think there is effort made. For as many die hards as there are, there's a million more casuals who won't see what the sham really is. It really is a classless organization.

Momentum is not there for anyone in the FO to be held accountable is the biggest thing he said. He admitted to being the least plugged in now than he's ever been in the past 7 years. Agreed that the Sox have had the most success when there seemingly has been a plan, everyone on the interview didn't feel like there is a direction. Hard to give up Cease while also trying to sell fanbase that they're competing next year. Brought up Sox also don't believe in spending on starting pitching, so that's why they're not giving up on Kopech being a starter. Stated they had given Keuchel the most money to a FA starting pitcher in team's history and that also didn't work out well. For the Sox to contend next year, they'll need SP, not less. Sparknotes: Sox are as dumb as we all believe or afraid to believe they are being.

I probably can speak for many Sox fans who still enjoy watching great players wearing a White Sox uniform win or lose. While winning is always good trading great players for prospects does not guarantee winning in the future so what's really the point ? We saw how once the Sox started winning how bad they were at finishing it off. Just keep him and Cease they are your best pitcher and position players. Allow the fans to enjoy them. Maybe once the Sox have an owner who knows how cultivate a productive minor league system and knows how to excite the fan base with the pursuit of superstars we can start to have real hope again. Until then, since I'll still be watching White Sox baseball I'll selfishly want to watch good/ great players rather than get my hopes up waiting for minor leaguers to become productive MLB players.

Just never rip Worth. It’s the most important town in IL. Without it the state would be Worthless.

With where their system currently is, they have one shot to turn things around by 2026 without trading Robert and that’s to nail a trade of Dylan Cease. Whats ironic though is that much like this season, the more they try to shortcut things, the more they convince themselves they’re super close, the farther they will be. If they’re sitting around saying “you never know what things will look like in 2025” rather than being honest about how deep the hole is, they’ll just keep digging.

Carlos Rodon from the 2014 draft and Chris Sale from the 2010 draft. You should be concerned about Sox pitching because the huge problem is this front office is piss poor at scouting, evaluating and drafting pitchers. Even worse, once drafted the Sox player development is horrendous at developing the pitchers into major league productive pitchers. This is why the AAA Knights have the worst ERA of 20 teams at 6.48 and the AA Barons are last of 8 teams with a 5.65 ERA. Keep in mind, even when the Sox have brought a few pitchers up from the farm system that are productive at the ML level, they were actually pitchers drafted by another organization such as Cease, Giolito, Dunning, Lopez to name a few. Until we fire the entire front office from the top to the bottom and go to the outside of a successful org that knows how to draft and develop pitchers, we will be living in this " embarrassing "lack of talent" nightmare for many years to come.

This, exactly. It sucked trading Sale, Eaton, and Quintana but it wasn't working. And trading one of the best SP this organization has ever had, another front of the rotation type pitcher, and a 6+ war OFer turned into 2 playoff appearances. Which I remind you is 2 more than they had with all of those high end players. I don't WANT to see Luis Robert traded. I do WANT to see the White Sox in the playoffs. If trading Robert to get potential pieces that they aren't going to pay for in free agency is how its going to happen, then that's what needs to happen. There is just no benefit to having Cease and Robert be superstars on a 78 to 82 win team for the next 3-4 years. I am skeptical if they can even win that many games with the state of this roster moving forward.

My concern is a regression with Cease and more injuries with Robert. Their trade value is high right now. I guess it was more fun dreaming of a winner during the rebuild and watching the pieces grow. Well it’s all weeds in the garden now and we gotta get to pullin. If they keep them I am fine with that too but sometimes we hold too long. It’s a forever rebuild for us. Sell the fucking team.

I don't think they want to. I think they simply realize the reality of the situation and that by the time the Sox are (maybe) good again he'll be on his way out the door. Another 'between a rock and a hard place' situation created by the Sox themselves.

If Robert were to traded, then you would see a fanbase and media finally push back like never before. If JR allowed Hahn to do that, then we can officially close the book on speculating whether JR is mentally healthy and dealing with normal cognitive functions.

He stands for kissing his boss ass every day and getting paid handsomely to do it.

No FA signing is fixing this mess. Not that they would even be in the running for true impact talent in the first place.

July 31, 1910 - Lee Tannehill hit the first White Sox home run at Comiskey Park when his ball rolled under the fence. According to the rules at the time it was still considered a home run and a grand slam to boot. It’s ironic that he’d be the first player to get a home run as he was considered one of the worst hitters in the early days of the American League. The Sox lost to the Tigers that afternoon 6-5. July 31, 1964 - Sox star left hander Juan Pizarro struck out 14 Senators in a 6-0 win in Washington. Pizarro allowed only four hits striking out at least once, eight of the nine starters. Pizarro would make the All-Star team that year and win 19 games with an ERA of 2.56 July 31, 1972 – It was another baseball rarity. Dick Allen’s magical season continued with two inside the park home runs in a single game. That tied the Major League record. It happened in Minnesota at old Metropolitan Stadium as the Sox beat Bert Blyleven 8-1. Bobby Darwin was the Twins center fielder who misplayed both of Allen’s drives. He slipped on the first one which saw the ball bounce completely over his head in right center, then on the second one he mistimed his dive in left center and the ball got by him and rolled all the way to the wall. Allen was credited with five RBI’s on the day. It started a stretch that saw the Sox win 14 of the next 17 games. July 31, 1977- It was the high point of the 1977 season. The “Southside Hit Men” had won the first two games of the crucial four game series with the Royals by coming from behind each time. In the first game of a Sunday double header, Chet Lemon’s two run home run in the last of the 10th tied the game at four, then Ralph Garr’s single drove in the game winner. The Sox were now six and a half games in the lead, the franchise’s largest margin at the top since 1967. Three straight come from behind wins had the crowd of over 45-thousand in a frenzy. The second game also produced fireworks as the Royals routed the Sox 8-4. Hal McRae homered, then did a slow trot around the bases, tipping his cap as he touched home plate, mocking Sox fans who had called for ‘curtain calls’ all season long. Sox fans reacted by throwing garbage at McRae and the Royals from the stands. Pitcher Steve Stone, now a Sox announcer, always felt that manager Bob Lemon made a major mistake by not putting his best lineup out for the second game and going for the jugular. The Sox would finish the surprising season with a record of 90-72 in third place. July 31, 1991 - The white-hot White Sox capped off a sizzling month with one of the most dramatic moments in team history. The Sox trailed the Rangers 8-6 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Texas brought in former Sox All-Star pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage to close things out. But the goose got cooked on this night as with two out, Robin Ventura hammered a grand slam into the right field stands winning the game 10-8. A full house, which included noted Cub fan Bill Murray sitting almost directly behind home plate, went wild as Ventura was bodily lifted off the ground by massive Frank Thomas in a celebration hug at home plate. The Sox went 19-8 that month. July 31, 1993 - With the Sox looking for any type of reliable starting pitching help in the middle of a pennant race, G.M. Ron Schueler was finally convinced to deal two of his ‘can’t miss kids,’ to Cincinnati for pitcher Tim Belcher. Belcher provided some consistency to help the rotation including throwing a shutout against Oakland, but came up big when it was really needed, in the post season. In game #4 of the A.L.C.S., he relieved a shell-shocked Jason Bere, pitched nearly four innings, and picked up the win which tied the best of seven series at two games each. July 31, 1996 - The White Sox infuriated their fans and angered their own players by refusing to make any significant trade moves at the deadline, settling for relief pitcher Tony Castillo later in August, to try to help a bullpen that was among the worst in baseball. In fact, the 1996 White Sox would set the record (since broken) for most blown save opportunities. The Sox were in the midst of losing a substantial lead in the Wild Card race at the time after having started the season at 40-21 and fighting Cleveland for the divisional lead. The following week, Sox players, pitcher Roberto Hernandez and outfielder Tony Phillips ripped the organization to The Sporting News. The Sox ended the year a disappointing 85-77 and out of the post season. July 31, 1997 - Perhaps the lowest point in the history of the Chicago White Sox franchise occurred as owner Jerry Reinsdorf issued his "Anybody who thinks this club can catch Cleveland is crazy" comment and gutted the team. Reinsdorf allowed General Manager Ron Schueler to trade Wilson Alvarez, Roberto Hernandez and Danny Darwin to the Giants with the Sox only three and a half games out of first. The Sox got back six minor league prospects. The "White Flag Trade” resulted in catastrophic consequences for the team from an attendance and public relations standpoint both locally and nationally. No team before had ever traded their top pitchers when they were only a few games off the lead. Joe Morgan went on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight and angrily denounced Sox management saying how sorry he felt "For the fans and the season ticket holders." Dave Campbell echoed those remarks on the same show. Sports Illustrated had the “Sox Surrender” as their feature story the next week and quoted both Alvarez and Hernandez as stating that when manager Terry Bevington told them they were traded he was "Laughing." Many Sox fans never forgave Reinsdorf and refused to ever attend games again in person. Sox star third baseman Robin Ventura, who worked his way back from a grotesque injury to his lower leg in late March, then issued his famous "I didn’t know the season ended in August" quote. July 31, 1998 - Albert Belle clocked his 16th home run in the month which set the Major League record at the time. The old mark was 15, set by Joe DiMaggio, Hank Greenberg, Juan Gonzales and Joe Adcock. The Sox would hammer the Rangers in Texas 10-2. He had 32 RBI’s for the month as well. July 31, 2004 - At the trade deadline, G. M. Kenny Williams made a pitching swap that would dramatically alter the franchise. He sent former All-Star Esteban Loaiza to the Yankees for disappointing Jose Contreras and cash. In 2005, Contreras would become the best pitcher in baseball after the All-Star break and help lead the Sox to the World Championship. He then set the club record with 16 straight wins spanning the 2005 and 2006 seasons. July 31, 2005 - In a very minor deal, the Sox picked up utility man Geoff Blum from the Padres for a minor league pitcher. Blum wrote his name into Sox history with his extra inning home run in game #3 of the 2005 World Series less than three months later, helping the Sox beat the Astros 7-5 in 14 innings. July 31, 2007 - Less than two seasons removed from winning a World Series title, the Sox allowed the most home runs ever in a single game in franchise history. The Yankees hit eight of them in a 16-3 pounding at Yankee Stadium. Jose Contreras gave up three, Charlie Haeger a pair and Gavin Floyd the other three. July 31, 2015 – He was one of the greatest players in franchise history and was a key part of the “Go-Go” Sox of the 1950’s. Pitcher Billy Pierce passed away on this day at the age of 78. Pierce was acquired from the Tigers in 1948 and immediately moved into the starting rotation the following season. He’d win 183 games in a Sox uniform, represent them in seven All-Star games, starting three of them with four one-hitters and at various times led the American League in games started, complete games, strikeouts, wins and ERA. He was a two-time A.L. Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News and for one season, 1970 was color analyst on White Sox TV broadcasts. He was named to the team’s all-Century team in 2000. By WAR Pierce was the highest rated pitcher for the decade of the 1950’s. After retiring, for many years, he helped raise millions of dollars through Northwestern’s Cancer Research Charity for Children, and as a White Sox ambassador he’d visit kids, retirement homes, people at the ballpark… he was beloved by the city. July 31, 2021 – It was a night to remember for Sox catcher Seby Zavala. The light hitting catcher blasted three home runs in a stunning 12-11 loss to the Indians. The White Sox had a 6-1 lead in the game before the bullpen gave it up. Zavala became the first player in big league history to hit his first three career home runs in the same game. In the losing effort he went 4 for 4 with four runs scored and six RBI’s.

DVS of the Sun-Times takes a closer look at it (and it wasn't good): https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/7/31/23814668/white-sox-focus-loosen-up-have-some-fun It dovetails with what I was told by multiple sources for the story I put together on the "State of the Sox" headed into this year: “The problem with this team is there was no real leadership, nobody to hold guys accountable. No red-asses like the Sox had in the past… Carlton Fisk, Jack McDowell, A.J. Pierzynski. Paul Konerko was a quiet guy but when we weren’t doing well he’d get really pissed. Elvis Andrus tried to supply some leadership when he came and Lucas Giolito tried.” “I’d come into the locker room after a game and you couldn’t tell if they won or lost, just nothing.” “You’d go in the locker room and all the Latino guys would be in one place, the whites in another and the African-Americans someplace else.” “I had heard that groups were apart and not close but part of that could be human nature, language divisions for example. I know the Latin guys were always around Jose’s locker, Moncada was always there. The Sox locker room is a big square so guys aren’t close to start with, the Cubs locker room is circular. I don’t know if that was by design or what but that lends itself to guys getting together.” “The problem is some of these guys just don’t care, they want to win sure but they already have gotten their money with these contracts before they proved anything. Moncada would strike out and just walk back to the dugout like no big deal, he fouls a ball off and now he can’t play for three days? His contract makes him untradable but he needs to go.” “There was a lack of urgency the entire season. People would say the right things but they never translated.” “To me it was the May 9 game with Cleveland, (Author’s Note: The Sox blew an 8-2, 9th inning lead and lost in extra innings which snapped a six-game win streak.) That showed Cleveland that they could play with the Sox but what I noticed was the only person that game seemed to bother was Tony LaRussa. Another one was the Triple Play Game against the Twins. (Author’s Note: The Sox ran themselves into an 8-5 triple play on July 4. They wound up losing the game 6-3 in extra innings) Adam Engel faced the music afterwards, he made a mistake and owned up to it. Moncada who also made a mistake was nowhere, he was already gone. Then the next day he was saying that he didn’t know people wanted to talk with him.” “They were the most disappointing team in baseball. They were consistently redundant, by that I mean day after day they’d make errors, have dumb base running mistakes, take bad approaches at the plate and lack effort. They were the dumbest, laziest team in baseball, I don’t know if they were the most disappointing team ever in Chicago but I’ve used the phrase that the 2022 White Sox were “Trying Barely”… they reminded me of the 2004 Cubs.”

Look at what they did in FA, and call me when the Sox do the same thing.

2027 is like the earliest they can turn it around by, and that's if everything goes right. The fact is they're staring down a 3+ year rebuild. They're not winning s%*# during the remainder of Robert’s contract. They're as far away as they were in 2018 but with a much worse farm. We'll have to agree to disagree. There's no way they can fix this in two offseasons unless Jerry turns into Cohen.

Lopez hitting 101 as he strikes out Acuna

Take off the silver and black goggles. They have 5 players at best. There are 26 men on the roster. They have 4/5 of a rotation to fill, and that cannot be done in one offseason, and if they trade Cease they have to fill all 5 spots. Kopech isn't a starter. They're in a worse spot now than they were in October 2016 when they tore it to the studs.

This is the White Sox we are talking about. We have enough of a sample size with this front office to know.

If you're realistic about their chances, they already have. The Sox aren't winning anything for the remainder of Robert's contract. IF everything goes right they MIGHT be able to compete the last year of his deal.

It's 5PM CDT, 6PM EDT. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-trade-rumors-live-deadline-news-trades-latest-on-justin-verlander-yankees-padres-more/live/

Jon Heyman said the complete opposite this morning. https://www.audacy.com/670thescore/sports/chicago-white-sox/heyman-white-sox-have-moves-around-the-edges-they-can-make It's not linked yet, but hopefully within the next few hours.

2002 without the Carlos Lees and Magglios and Buehrles and all the other value in and from the minors that we aren’t seeing at all ?

Fortunes can change in short order. Unless you’re receiving an existing MLB star you cannot get a prospect package good enough for Robert. You just can’t do it if you use surplus value. but yeah let’s trade a sure thing for a bunch of non-sure things that have two additional years of control. Brilliant. Thank goodness you aren’t anywhere close to the front office!

I'll say no but it depends on Birmingham

Robert better not be traded, no reason at all. Signed long term

A month ago Jon Heyman pissed Hahn off when he reported Grifol could be a one year and done manager. In to hear what Fegan has to say.

We want Ohtani here We want JR gone Obvious solution is to give Ohtani JR's ownership stake in exchange for signing with the Sox.

Montas and Severino are the two reclamation projects I’d go after.

Now that the Heyman quotes about everyone on the roster (even Robert) being up for discussion are out there...

Because of the constant state of rebuilding, the White Sox are talking with Home Depot due to HD’s specializing products to build and repair stuff

Thoughts? Can Hahn bring him up to solidify the bullpen in 2024?

Giving those big money extensions so the Sox could avoid having to pay arbitration figures for a year or two really blew up in their face when those guys decided they didn't have to work so hard anymore.

Sox might be the favorites here. Same agent as Chapellí

…competing in 2024

Big troll energy.

What about that cash they just got from Arizona for Ruiz?....that should help.