With few teams willing or able to meet Chicago’s asking price, the New York Yankees stand alone as the most realistic trade partner for White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr.
There’s little incentive for the Chicago White Sox to move outfielder Luis Robert Jr. before Opening Day.
The White Sox don’t have many long-term payroll commitments on the books, and the club isn’t overly motivated to shed Robert’s $20 million salary. If they were, they wouldn’t have exercised his club option in the first place.
The market has made that reality clear for more than a year now. Dating back to Spring Training in 2025, Robert has been the subject of persistent trade rumors. But no team has met the asking price set by White Sox GM Chris Getz, and Robert hasn’t played well enough to materially change that valuation.
If Chicago doesn’t get strong value, they’ll carry Robert into the 2026 season and see what he produces. That has always been the most likely outcome. I’ve been saying it for months.
But if there’s one team with the prospect capital, financial flexibility, and motivation to make a deal before Opening Day, it’s the New York Yankees.
According to a report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post earlier this week, the Yankees are beginning to explore alternatives to Cody Bellinger.
Bellinger remains New York’s top free-agent target, but negotiations have reportedly hit an impasse. With marquee bats like Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker already landing with rival teams, the Yankees are now turning their attention to the trade market.
And they’ve reached out to the White Sox about Luis Robert Jr.
So why does New York make more sense than the other rumored suitors?
It starts with the White Sox’s organizational needs.
Chicago’s infield is already crowded, with multiple top prospects who profile best at shortstop waiting in the wings. They’re also widely expected to add another shortstop with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
The outfield, however, is a different story.
Trade or no trade, Andrew Benintendi and Luis Robert Jr. are not long for the White Sox roster. While No. 1 prospect Braden Montgomery could make his MLB debut at some point in 2026, that only fills one of three outfield spots. There are no other outfield prospects in the system who project as near-term everyday contributors.
Chicago could also use an infusion of pitching talent at the lower levels of the minor leagues. The organization has plenty of arms competing for big-league roles and excelling in the upper minors, but adding developmental pitchers with upside—players still a few years away—would help replenish depth and extend a future contention window.
The Yankees can address both needs.
The obvious starting point in any discussion is 24-year-old outfielder Spencer Jones.
Jones is the No. 4 prospect in the Yankees’ system and No. 99 overall on MLB Pipeline’s most recent Top 100 list. He brings elite bat speed, loud exit velocities, and natural power—traits that finally translated into game production in 2025.
Between Double-A and Triple-A, Jones launched 35 home runs in 116 games and finished the season with an impressive .571 slugging percentage.
The strikeouts are a legitimate concern. He struck out 200 times in 482 at-bats at Double-A in 2024, followed by 179 strikeouts in 438 at-bats in 2025.
But Jones walks enough to offset some of that swing-and-miss, posting a .362 on-base percentage last season. The White Sox have clearly targeted profiles like this—bat speed, patience, and upside—throughout the offseason. They aren’t afraid to take on risk, especially when it comes with long-term control and a clear path to playing time.
That makes Jones a natural fit if Chicago is serious about betting on upside.
If the Yankees balk at moving a bat with Jones’ ceiling, the White Sox could pivot toward pitching.
Right-handers Bryce Cunningham (Yankees No. 5) and Ben Hess (No. 6) are both 23 years old and still a few years away from contributing in a big-league rotation. There’s also Henry Lalane (No. 9), a 21-year-old lefty with three above-average pitches but a limited minor-league track record.
Package a few of those arms together, and the White Sox could view it as a chance to restock their system with pitchers who can immediately slot into Winston-Salem (High-A) or Birmingham (Double-A).
Most teams rumored to have interest in Robert Jr. can address one of Chicago’s needs. The Yankees can address both. And unlike smaller-market clubs, they can absorb Robert’s $20 million salary without it impacting other roster decisions.
That’s the separator. That’s what makes New York the most logical landing spot if Luis Robert Jr. is dealt.
The Yankees still need a bat that can punish left-handed pitching and make a real defensive impact. At this point in the offseason, it’s becoming increasingly clear.
It’s the Yankees—or nobody.