The Dodgers and White Sox beforehand engaged in commerce talks that might’ve despatched heart fielder Luis Robert Jr. to Los Angeles in trade for outfielder James Outman and an unnamed “front-line prospect,” in keeping with a report from USA Right this moment’s Bob Nightengale. Nightengale notably provides that talks between the perimeters have been tabled at current, nonetheless, and it’s unclear whether or not these discussions occurred lately or sooner or later throughout this previous offseason.
That the Dodgers would have curiosity in Robert is pretty unsurprising. The middle fielder was among the many most evident commerce candidates of the offseason with Chicago coming off the worst season in MLB historical past. Robert himself was a part of that brutal marketing campaign, as he was restricted to simply 100 video games by accidents and didn’t carry out as much as expectations even when wholesome with a .224/.278/.379 slash line (84 wRC+). Whereas he stole 23 bases and slugged 14 homers throughout that point, he was held again by a 33.2% strikeout price, the very best of his profession.
That’s not a lot of a platform season to market to potential suitors. Between that and the $17MM assured to Robert this season between his $15MM wage and the $2MM buyout of a $20MM staff choice for 2026, it’s hardly a shock that the White Sox weren’t capable of finding the appropriate worth for his or her franchise heart fielder. Regardless of his weak 2024 marketing campaign, nonetheless, he did garner curiosity from golf equipment just like the Reds and Giants this winter. It’s not laborious to see why, on condition that Robert will not be too far faraway from a 2023 marketing campaign that noticed him make his first profession All-Star staff, end twelfth in AL MVP voting, and win the Silver Slugger award in heart discipline. In 145 video games that yr, he posted a 128 wRC+, slugged 38 homers, swiped 20 luggage, and posted a 5-win marketing campaign (4.9 fWAR, 5.3 bWAR).
That tantalizing upside seems to have intrigued the Dodgers as effectively. It was reported again in December that Robert was amongst numerous potential alternate options to Teoscar Hernandez that L.A. was weighing a pursuit of in the event that they had been unable to deliver the slugger again into the fold by way of free company, although that thought experiment finally went nowhere when Hernandez re-signed with the membership shortly thereafter. Even after bringing Hernandez into the fold, nonetheless, including Robert may make no less than some sense for the Dodgers. With Robert put in in heart discipline, L.A. could be a lot much less reliant on Miguel Rojas (and, finally, Hyeseong Kim) at second base and will as an alternative set up switch-hitter Tommy Edman on the place. A stronger defender on the infield like Edman may assist Mookie Betts enhance as he works on studying shortstop, or may even present the Dodgers with the power to start utilizing Edman at quick and Betts on the keystone if the experiment of enjoying Betts on the Most worthy defensive place on the diamond doesn’t work out.
Between the extra flexibility Robert would offer the Dodgers in how they deploy Edman and his earlier heights as a star participant, it’s not laborious to see why the membership would have some degree of curiosity in him. The discussions reported by Nightengale counsel that Outman could be a key a part of the return, which may make loads of sense for each side. Outman, 28 subsequent month, completed third in NL Rookie of the 12 months voting again in 2023 with a wonderful debut season the place he hit .248/.353/.437 (118 wRC+) as Los Angeles’s common heart fielder. Sadly, his sophomore season didn’t go almost in addition to he struck out in 35.3% of his plate appearances, posted a wRC+ of simply 54, and was under substitute degree in 53 video games.
In some regards, Outman is a considerably related participant to Robert, albeit with a far decrease ceiling. Outman at present isn’t slated to hit free company till after the 2030 season, which may be enticing to the rebuilding White Sox. He evidently wouldn’t have been the one piece Chicago acquired had the commerce been consummated, although it’s unclear whether or not the “front-line” prospect concerned could be a top-100 sort expertise like southpaw Jackson Ferris or shortstop Alex Freeland or maybe a much less flashy identify like righty Nick Frasso or outfielder Kendall George. What the hypothetical commerce would have ended up trying like, it’s clear the perimeters aren’t at present discussing a deal at this level. Maybe they may circle again and reignite talks nearer to the commerce deadline, when Robert is bound to be in the marketplace forward of the ultimate assured yr of his contract.
