A look at the four teams with the talent and motivation to trade for Luis Robert Jr.—and the prospects the White Sox might target.
Let me start here. I do not believe the Chicago White Sox are going to trade Luis Robert Jr. this winter.
Chris Getz has been extremely clear about his intentions for months. He set a price at the 2025 trade deadline; when it wasn’t met, he didn’t move Robert. He telegraphed that the White Sox would pick up Robert’s $20 million club option for 2026 — and when the time came, that’s exactly what they did.
Now Getz has said publicly and repeatedly that the White Sox expect Robert to be in uniform, playing centerfield on Opening Day. And for whatever reason, nobody seems to believe him.
Recent reporting from Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan at ESPN suggested that rival executives view a Robert trade as “imminent.” Both writers gave him a 60 percent chance to be moved — despite also acknowledging that teams wouldn’t be willing to meet a high price for him.
I don’t understand how that logic tracks, nor why Getz would suddenly reverse course after being firm on his stance for half a year.
But whatever — let’s entertain the idea anyway.
If the White Sox did decide to trade their former All-Star centerfielder, which clubs make the most sense? McDaniel and Passan listed four potential fits: the San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds.
San Francisco Giants
Seven of the top eight prospects in the Giants’ system are position players, and three of them — Bo Davidson (No. 5), Dakota Jordan (No. 6), and Rayner Arias (No. 8) — are outfielders. That matches what the White Sox would likely target in any return package: young outfield talent, preferably close to MLB-ready.
San Francisco also has the organizational depth to make a deal without gutting the farm — and the pressure to ‘keep up with the Joneses,’ who in this case are their NL West rival, the Dodgers.
New York Mets
No surprise here. The Mets were all over Robert at the 2025 trade deadline but ultimately wouldn’t part with the prospect capital to finish a deal. Instead, they pivoted to Cedric Mullins — who hit just .182 with a .565 OPS after the trade.
A name to watch in a Mets-White Sox framework is Ryan Clifford, their No. 8 prospect. He’s on the doorstep of the majors, plays first base and corner outfield, hits left-handed, and brings real power. He profiles as a potential headliner in any Mets offer.
I'd also watch Luisangel Acuña, a 23-year-old utility man and former top prospect that played in 95 games at the big league level in 2025. Acuña was involved in rumors at the deadline and has reportedly drawn more interest recently from the White Sox, who evidently see something they like.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies need to shake up their core after yet another season short of a World Series berth. With Kyle Schwarber threatening to leave in free agency, Philadelphia has a window to re-imagine the lineup.
They also need outfield help. The prospect that fits Chicago’s preferences best is Gabriel Rincones Jr., Philadelphia's No. 9 prospect. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter posted an .800 OPS with 18 homers in Triple-A last season and is on track to debut in 2026. He fits everything Chris Getz values.
Cincinnati Reds
Everyone in baseball expects the Reds to push forward this winter. They finally got a taste of the postseason in 2025 and are hungry for more — but they don’t have the financial room to chase more than one of the top free agents.
Schwarber has been linked here, but even if he arrives, the outfield picture remains crowded and undefined: Gavin Lux, Noelvi Marte, Will Benson, TJ Friedl — with two natural infielders trying to survive on the grass.
That’s why Héctor Rodríguez (Reds No. 9) is a name worth circling in a Luis Robert Jr. deal. He turns 22 just before Opening Day, bats left-handed, and projects as a solid defensive corner outfielder. He handled Double-A and Triple-A as a 21-year-old, hitting .786 OPS with 19 homers and 15 steals.
Most importantly, his MLB timeline mirrors that of Braden Montgomery, the White Sox’s top prospect — something that could be appealing.
Could anything actually change?
As I’ve said before: if the White Sox trade Luis Robert Jr., it will be because something changes externally — not internally. It will take a steep market shift.
With a thin centerfield free-agent class, it’s possible a desperate team decides the upside on Robert at $20 million is worth finally parting with a premium prospect that checks Getz’s boxes.
If that happens, the mold is clear: Outfielders. Left-handed hitters. Prospects close enough to debut in the next 12 months.
That’s the universe in which a Robert trade enters the realm of possibility. But until a team goes there, don’t expect Chicago to be the one making the first move.