Robert Thread: Sox talking to Reds, Mets

[poppysox]

4 hours ago, Squirmin' for Yermin said:

Could be never

Hope so!

[Chicago White Sox]

Sounds like the Sox are willing to eat half of Robert’s salary per Wittenmyer.  If so, how would you feel about this series of moves:

• CF Luis Robert + $10M cash for RHP Chase Petty and 2026 Comp B pick
• Sign RHP Pete Fairbanks to 2/$18M contract
• Sign OF Max Kepler to 1/$8M contract

Should put the total roster right around $90M in payroll and would leave you with this:

Lineup :

1. Meidroth, 2B
2. Teel, CA*
3. Montgomery, SS*
4. Vargas, 3B
5. Murakami, 1B*
6. Quero, DH#
7. Kepler, RF*
8. Benintendi, LF*
9. Baldwin, CF#

Bench:

• BC: Lee
• IF: Sosa
• OF: Pereira
• OF: Hill

Rotation:

1. Smith
2. Martin
3. Kay*
4. Burke
5. Petty

Bullpen:

• CL: Fairbanks
• SU: Taylor
• SU: Leasure
• MR: Vasil
• MR: Newcomb*
• MR: Alberto
• MR: Gilbert*
• LR: Paez

[Chicago White Sox]

19 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

They have been cutting because of previous season losses for years now.  There is nothing to say that they had previously cut enough either.

Ishbia just injected capital into the org to help pay off debt.

[fathom]

Fairbanks gonna get way more than that, as non closers are getting 2/22.  As for Kepler, no thanks. 

[Chicago White Sox]

1 minute ago, fathom said:

Fairbanks gonna get way more than that, as non closers are getting 2/22.  As for Kepler, no thanks. 

What OFs do you prefer in the event they trade Robert?

[ChiSoxFanMike]

1 minute ago, Chicago White Sox said:

What OFs do you prefer in the event they trade Robert?

I’d rather have Bader than Kepler. I’d rather have Austin Hays than Kepler too.

[Chicago White Sox]

1 minute ago, fathom said:

Fairbanks gonna get way more than that, as non closers are getting 2/22.  As for Kepler, no thanks. 

I read teams have health concerns with Fairbanks over a nerve issue, which probably explains why other teams have prioritized non closers over him.

[fathom]

2 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

What OFs do you prefer in the event they trade Robert?

Bleday

[caulfield12]

4 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Sounds like the Sox are willing to eat half of Robert’s salary per Wittenmyer.  If so, how would you feel about this series of moves:

• CF Luis Robert + $10M cash for RHP Chase Petty and 2026 Comp B pick
• Sign RHP Pete Fairbanks to 2/$18M contract
• Sign OF Max Kepler to 1/$8M contract

Should put the total roster right around $90M in payroll and would leave you with this:

Lineup :

1. Meidroth, 2B
2. Teel, CA*
3. Montgomery, SS*
4. Vargas, 3B
5. Murakami, 1B*
6. Quero, DH#
7. Kepler, RF*
8. Benintendi, LF*
9. Baldwin, CF#

Bench:

• BC: Lee
• IF: Sosa
• OF: Pereira
• OF: Hill

Rotation:

1. Smith
2. Martin
3. Kay*
4. Burke
5. Petty

Bullpen:

• CL: Fairbanks
• SU: Taylor
• SU: Leasure
• MR: Vasil
• MR: Newcomb*
• MR: Alberto
• MR: Gilbert*
• LR: Paez

Can't have a bench without a SS.

[caulfield12]

2 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

I’d rather have Bader than Kepler. I’d rather have Austin Hays than Kepler too.

Bader will get over $10 million.

[SoCalChiSox]

5 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Sounds like the Sox are willing to eat half of Robert’s salary per Wittenmyer.  If so, how would you feel about this series of moves:

• CF Luis Robert + $10M cash for RHP Chase Petty and 2026 Comp B pick
• Sign RHP Pete Fairbanks to 2/$18M contract
• Sign OF Max Kepler to 1/$8M contract

Should put the total roster right around $90M in payroll and would leave you with this:

Lineup :

1. Meidroth, 2B
2. Teel, CA*
3. Montgomery, SS*
4. Vargas, 3B
5. Murakami, 1B*
6. Quero, DH#
7. Kepler, RF*
8. Benintendi, LF*
9. Baldwin, CF#

Bench:

• BC: Lee
• IF: Sosa
• OF: Pereira
• OF: Hill

Rotation:

1. Smith
2. Martin
3. Kay*
4. Burke
5. Petty

Bullpen:

• CL: Fairbanks
• SU: Taylor
• SU: Leasure
• MR: Vasil
• MR: Newcomb*
• MR: Alberto
• MR: Gilbert*
• LR: Paez

That would be  solid....especially with at least one of Schultz or Smith joining the rotation at some point.

 

[ChiSoxFanMike]

2 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Bader will get over $10 million.

He projected 1/8 for Kepler. At that point you might as well spend a little more and get a guy who can play CF in Bader.

Edited December 23, 2025 by ChiSoxFanMike

[poppysox]

6 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

I’d rather have Bader than Kepler. I’d rather have Austin Hays than Kepler too.

I'd rather have Hays as well but Kepler does intrigue me until McGomery arrives.

[southsider2k5]

10 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Ishbia just injected capital into the org to help pay off debt.

Which still leaves any new operating losses, such as the losses from last years lack of a TV contract, along with any haircut the took on the deal going forward being a much smaller number than it was in previous years.

[Timmy U]

14 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

I’d rather have Bader than Kepler. I’d rather have Austin Hays than Kepler too.

Kepler is toast. Giving him an $8 mil severance package would be a very bad idea. Tauchman is considerably better at this point. 

[tray]

12 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Ishbia just injected capital into the org to help pay off debt.

How much? 

[WestEddy]

There was an earlier offer, the Sox wanted another player:

 

The latest on Luis Robert and the Reds from @GDubMLB on The Stone Shields Show:

-Reds made offer earlier in off-season, White Sox wanted another player
-Source said deal “could be done as soon as this week, if it gets done.”
-Wittenmyer believes serious discussions on-going pic.twitter.com/vP5gW8T2GY

— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) December 23, 2025

 

[ChiSoxFanMike]

6 minutes ago, Timmy U said:

Kepler is toast. Giving him an $8 mil severance package would be a very bad idea. Tauchman is considerably better at this point. 

Kepler gives me 2021 Adam Eaton vibes in terms of being cooked.

[SoxBlanco]

23 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Can't have a bench without a SS.

You can get away with it if your starting 2B can play SS. 

[WestEddy]

Just pulling stuff off of Twitter:

Quote

Reports have indicated all winter that Nolan McLean is unavailable (from the Mets), but they've been open to listening on Jonah Tong or Brandon Sproat in the right deal.

Mets free agency and trade buzz: Diamondbacks likely won't deal Ketel Marte unless they receive young pitching

[Timmy U]

1 minute ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Kepler gives me 2021 Adam Eaton vibes in terms of being cooked.

Kepler posted .1 bWAR last year in over 400 at bats. He would be like signing another Benintendi. It’s not 2018/2019 anymore.

[Squirmin' for Yermin]

44 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Just pulling stuff off of Twitter:

Mets free agency and trade buzz: Diamondbacks likely won't deal Ketel Marte unless they receive young pitching

I can imagine you can get either

[Chicago White Sox]

1 minute ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

I’d rather have Bader than Kepler. I’d rather have Austin Hays than Kepler too.

I think Bader is going to get a fuckton of money relatively speaking.  Hayes gets most of his from hitting lefties which is likely redundant with other OFs on the roster.  Kepler is super inconsistent, but is a good defensive RF, has some power, and was super unlucky last year based on how his wOBA compared to his xwOBA.  By no means do I love the idea, but it’s a shitty OF market and Kepler might be the best mix of floor & upside in that price range.  I would not do anything but a one year deal with him.

[Chicago White Sox]

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

Can't have a bench without a SS.

Meidroth is the primary backup SS when needed.  Baldwin or Sosa can cover there in an emergency.  I think that’s a totally fine to handle the position.

[Chicago White Sox]

1 hour ago, SoCalChiSox said:

That would be  solid....especially with at least one of Schultz or Smith joining the rotation at some point.

 

Lots of potential reinforcements on the pitching side (both SPs and relievers) to challenge incumbents and fill in holes due to performance or injury.  Braden is your eventual OF reinforcement and Antonacci your IF reinforcement.  Not a bad amount of depth.