Robert Option Picked Up

[Bob Sacamano]

4 minutes ago, greg775 said:

I wonder why Getz didn't trade Robert this offseason. It's a lot less controversial to trade his salary now while the Bears are still in contention.

Seems weird to keep one star on the team (as well as Colson) when the Sox still are not on paper considered contenders. Dump him now and it's a sidelight to the Bears. Seems weird Jerry would elect to pay him rather than dump him to the Mets for prospects.

? The offseason is still going on

[michelangelosmonkey]

5 minutes ago, greg775 said:

I wonder why Getz didn't trade Robert this offseason. It's a lot less controversial to trade his salary now while the Bears are still in contention.

Seems weird to keep one star on the team (as well as Colson) when the Sox still are not on paper considered contenders. Dump him now and it's a sidelight to the Bears. Seems weird Jerry would elect to pay him rather than dump him to the Mets for prospects.

It's reading tea leaves...but all actions make me think that they think Robert is a longer term option.  If it was all about money...decline the option. If you want an asset...trade at least years deadline.  Honestly it's not ridiculous to think they have him penciled in as their CF for the near future.

[michelangelosmonkey]

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

He's a CFer in the same way Braden Montgomery is....

And he has to hit much much better on a consistent basis over 4+ months at AA to be even considered as a viable option.

 

https://worldbaseball.com/npb-the-top-15-position-players-entering-the-2025-seaons/

The best Japanese outfielder remaining in Kensuke Kondoh, but he's 32 already and needs to come to the US as quickly as possible if he's ever going to try.  No later than 2027.

I'm not saying Zavala is the answer...I'm saying it's too soon to completely give up on a guy who is two years younger than Braden, has an elite eye (ranked fifth in walks in all the minor leagues over the two-year period 23-24) and made significant progress hitting last year.  

[hi8is]

22 minutes ago, michelangelosmonkey said:

It's reading tea leaves...but all actions make me think that they think Robert is a longer term option.  If it was all about money...decline the option. If you want an asset...trade at least years deadline.  Honestly it's not ridiculous to think they have him penciled in as their CF for the near future.

Who the f*** this monkey?

[michelangelosmonkey]

4 minutes ago, hi8is said:

Who the f*** this monkey?

I have a thousand posts. Michelangelo likes me.  Who the f*** are any of us?

  

[caulfield12]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/angels-re-sign-yolmer-sanchez-to-minor-league-deal.html

Gatorade coolers rejoice.

[Timmy U]

6 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

He's a CFer in the same way Braden Montgomery is....

And he has to hit much much better on a consistent basis over 4+ months at AA to be even considered as a viable option.

 

https://worldbaseball.com/npb-the-top-15-position-players-entering-the-2025-seaons/

The best Japanese outfielder remaining in Kensuke Kondoh, but he's 32 already and needs to come to the US as quickly as possible if he's ever going to try.  No later than 2027.

Have you seen him play? Lotta warts in Zavala’s game. Defense in center ain’t one of them.

[caulfield12]

2 hours ago, Timmy U said:

Have you seen him play? Lotta warts in Zavala’s game. Defense in center ain’t one of them.

I read all the reports when he was with SD...if they really believed he was their CFer of the future and not a corner guy, they likely wouldn't have traded him, because they weren't yet sure Jackson Merrill would succeed in CF yet.  

During that time frame, CF play was being measure against guys like Grisham and Margot.

"Zavala shows good defensive instincts and a solid-average arm in center field, though his speed likely fits best in a corner." baseballamerica.com

And also concerns that he was going to continue to fill out/put on weight and that would work against his ending up in CF as well.

Edited yesterday at 02:29 PM by caulfield12

[DoUEvenShift]

 

[Bob Sacamano]

7 minutes ago, DoUEvenShift said:

 

It’s Boob so anything can happen

[WhiteSox2023]

6 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

It’s Boob so anything can happen

But it does align with this source.  I wouldn’t trade for $20 million dollar Robert if I had Crawford waiting in the wings either.

 

Edited yesterday at 05:56 PM by WhiteSox2023

[WestEddy]

2 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

But it does align with this source.  I wouldn’t trade for $20 million dollar Robert if I had Crawford waiting in the wings either.

 

And the true solution might just be trading with the Royals or Guardians. Robert won't be a fixture in either place. He either gets bought out at the end of 26 or 27. Then he hits the market and takes top dollar available. 

[WhiteSox2023]

1 minute ago, WestEddy said:

And the true solution might just be trading with the Royals or Guardians. Robert won't be a fixture in either place. He either gets bought out at the end of 26 or 27. Then he hits the market and takes top dollar available. 

Anyone but the Mets and utility man Acuna please.

[WhiteSox2023]

21 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

And the true solution might just be trading with the Royals or Guardians. Robert won't be a fixture in either place. He either gets bought out at the end of 26 or 27. Then he hits the market and takes top dollar available. 

Confirmed by Dombrowski today…

 

[Bob Sacamano]

1 hour ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Confirmed by Dombrowski today…

 

The possibility exists that he falls flat on his face in Spring Training and the Phillies want to make a Sprint Training deal

[caulfield12]

2 hours ago, WestEddy said:

And the true solution might just be trading with the Royals or Guardians. Robert won't be a fixture in either place. He either gets bought out at the end of 26 or 27. Then he hits the market and takes top dollar available. 

Cleveland might have to deal Kwan because he's getting more expensive AND has a lot of value to other teams.

They'd have to get at least $8-10 million back for it to make sense to them.

And KC just committed $50+ million to a Maikel Garcia extension. Even they would need $5-6 million subsidy in all likelihood.

Plus JR doesn't exactly love helping divisional foes...also see those opponents more often as opponents, which could end more embarrassing if he suddenly reverts back to 2023 Robert somehow.

[joejoesox]

Sox aren't gonna be asking for anything besides prospects that are a couple years off right,or are they just wanting a replacement for Robert that's probably not as good?

[caulfield12]

48 minutes ago, joejoesox said:

Sox aren't gonna be asking for anything besides prospects that are a couple years off right,or are they just wanting a replacement for Robert that's probably not as good?

Feels like Getz might just be searching for an off ramp to save face.

Getting back a draft pick buys him a lot more time, without having the immediate pressure of an acquisition to actually perform well and help get the Sox to 70-75.

2027 will be defined by labor unrest settled/new rules to decipher/waiting on arrival of 2026 draft pick/s

That 2027-28 off season will be Getz's fifth, and only then MAYBE a competitive team.

[Lip Man 1]

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

Feels like Getz might just be searching for an off ramp to save face.

Getting back a draft pick buys him a lot more time, without having the immediate pressure of an acquisition to actually perform well and help get the Sox to 70-75.

2027 will be defined by labor unrest settled/new rules to decipher/waiting on arrival of 2026 draft pick/s

That 2027-28 off season will be Getz's fifth, and only then MAYBE a competitive team.

Assuming JR is still the owner. If he isn't Getz probably won't be around. 

[WhiteSox2023]

3 hours ago, Bob Sacamano said:

The possibility exists that he falls flat on his face in Spring Training and the Phillies want to make a Sprint Training deal

50 bad/fluky plate appearances in Spring Training wouldn’t convince me to give up on my top CF prospect (#3 prospect), and then pivot to give up prospect(s) and pay a questionable performing and injury prone Luis Robert 1/$22 million or 2/$40 million.

Edited 20 hours ago by WhiteSox2023

[Bob Sacamano]

2 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

50 bad/fluky plate appearances in Spring Training wouldn’t convince me to give up on my top CF prospect (#3 prospect) to pay a questionable performing and injury prone Luis Robert 1/$22 million or 2/$40 million.

Who said give up on? He just wouldn’t crack OD roster.

[poppysox]

20 hours ago, michelangelosmonkey said:

Robert has played about 120 games a year on average the last three years.  He's only 28.  We have no legit centerfielders in the system.  He is an elite defender with some power. Increased his walk rate to 10%. Stole 33 bases at an 80% success rate.  I know he's not the super star we all hoped...but isn't that a useful player as your #9 hitter?  What about extending him 3 years for $45.  

I argued this point a few months ago at the trade deadline.  It's not a crowd pleaser...But I agree.

[Bob Sacamano]

1 minute ago, poppysox said:

I argued this point a few months ago at the trade deadline.  It's not a crowd pleaser...But I agree.

Yeah, you don’t sign a possibly team friendly extension when you hire Scott Boras as your agent.

[WhiteSox2023]

1 hour ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Who said give up on? He just wouldn’t crack OD roster.

That’s what I was referring to.  50 PA’s in ST one way or the other shouldn’t even dictate that decision, and it seems that is what Dombrowski is indicating by his quote posted above.

Edited 19 hours ago by WhiteSox2023

[WhiteSox2023]

31 minutes ago, poppysox said:

I argued this point a few months ago at the trade deadline.  It's not a crowd pleaser...But I agree.

Robert just doesn’t have much incentive to sign an extension right now, especially not a hometown discount (3/$45 million).  He can just play out the string on his current contract.  If he performs well for whatever team he is on by the end of the 2026 season, he will either force the issue on that team picking up his final $20 million dollar option for 2027 or he will receive a $2 million dollar buyout to become a free agent and have Boras find him a long-term deal.

Edited 19 hours ago by WhiteSox2023