ESPN's Jeff Passan believes Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. would be a perfect fit for the Philadelphia Phillies. In his latest column, Passan feels the National League East leaders lack an "impact center fielder," and Robert would be the ideal choice. Robert is hitting .232/.306/.475 with 11 homers, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored over 47 games. He is a perfect 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts. The subject of trade rumors, if Robert were to arrive in Philadelphia, he would give the Phillies one of the most imposing lineups in the league and would also see his numbers increase, which is good news for fantasy managers.
General managers around the league are skeptical as to whether any team will meet the Chicago White Sox's high asking price for oft-injured center fielder Luis Robert Jr. However, the market for right-handed starting pitcher Erick Fedde, who is 6-3 on the year with a 3.13 ERA, is expected to be robust leading up to the trade deadline at the end of July. Robert received his first All-Star selection last year, when he hit .264/.315/.542 with an .857 OPS, 38 home runs, 80 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 145 games, the first time in his career he'd played more than 98 games in a single season. But the 26-year-old right-handed slugger caught the injury bug already in 2024 and has disappointed to the tune of a .227/.301/.496 slash line with 10 homers, 19 RBI and six thefts in 37 games. Chicago may prefer to wait until the offseason or next summer to trade Robert when his value is higher if he can stay healthy the rest of 2024.
Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. heads to the bench for Monday's series opener against the visiting division-rival Minnesota Twins. With Robert getting a breather, Andrew Benintendi, Corey Julks and Gavin Sheets will start across the outfield in Chicago from right to left, respectively. Tommy Pham was scheduled to start in center and bat leadoff, but he was scratched due to a dental issue. The 26-year-old Robert will get a day off after starting in each of the team's last 12 games. Robert has so far been a fantasy bust in 2024 after setting career-highs in homers (38) and stolen bases (20) in 2023 while earning his first All-Star selection. Unsurprisingly, though, he's missed time with another injury this year and is currently slashing .227/.301/.496 with 10 home runs, 19 RBI and six stolen bases in 37 games. He should still be rostered in all fantasy formats for his power and speed, and Robert could see an increase in value if he's traded at the deadline to a contender.
Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. did a bit of everything offensively in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the Guardians. Robert Jr. went 2-for-4 with a single, a two-run home run, four RBI, a strikeout, and a stolen base. The 26-year-old turned on a sixth-inning Carlos Carrasco slider, putting it just over the left-field wall to tie the game. Robert Jr. has provided power but has been disappointing overall, slashing .215/.286/.512 with 10 HR, 19 runs scored, 18 RBI, and four stolen bases in 133 plate appearances. He missed time with a right hip flexor strain as well but stayed healthy in 2023 and put together a great season. His fantasy ceiling is quite high, so fantasy managers should continue to put their trust in him if they can afford it.
White Sox Considering Hanging Onto Luis Robert Jr.
The Chicago White Sox have had several teams contact them about center fielder Luis Robert Jr., but given his struggles this year, they are considering hanging onto him into at least the winter since he's under team control through 2027. Robert is hitting just .205 (24-for-117) with 14 RBI and 18 runs scored in 31 games, but he's also managed nine home runs despite missing a big chunk of time due to another injury. The 26-year-old Cuban slugger finally managed to stay healthy in 2023 and made his first All-Star team by hitting 38 home runs, driving in 80 and stealing 20 bags in 145 games. Robert still has the potential to be a beast if he can just stay on the field, so the White Sox would be crossing their fingers that he can stay healthy going into next season so that they can potentially trade him next summer (or even this winter) at his highest value.
Luis Robert Jr. Homers On Saturday Against The Colorado Rockies
Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. homered on Saturday in a game against the Colorado Rockies. The 470-foot blast off Cal Quantrill was his ninth home run of the season. Robert Jr. also scored a run as well. He is hitting .206 on the season with nine home runs, 13 RBI, three stolen bases, and 18 runs. The star outfielder has struggled with the bat over the last month, with only 16 hits in 89 plate appearances, good for a .203 batting average. He has hit six home runs in June, so the power has been there for Robert Jr. even as the batting average has suffered in 2024.
Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. went 2-for-3 in Thursday afternoon's win over the visiting Atlanta Braves, cranking his eighth home run of the season. Robert launched a solo homer off Braves left-hander Chris Sale to left field, putting the White Sox on the board in the first inning of Thursday's 1-0 shutout victory. The 26-year-old star center fielder has been one of the main subjects of trade rumors this summer, and he would likely benefit greatly from a fantasy perspective if he were moved from the last-place ChiSox in July. Robert now has just 12 RBI in 28 games on the South Side this year, slashing a lukewarm .204/.281/.485 with 15 runs scored and three stolen bases over 103 at-bats.
Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert went yard in a 7-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday. Robert wound up going 1-for-4 with the homer and a strikeout in the winning effort. Robert's solo shot came off Boston starter Cooper Criswell in the first inning, a blast that traveled 430 feet and had an exit velocity of 111.7 MPH. Robert is now hitting .205 with four homers, six runs, six RBI, and one steal across 44 at-bats in 2024. He will look to go yard again on Saturday as the Red Sox send right-hander Brayan Bello to the mound.
Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (hip) did not waste time to contribute offensively in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the Cubs. Robert Jr., who had been sidelined since early April with a Grade 2 right hip flexor strain, went 2-for-4 with a single, a solo home run, and a strikeout. The 26-year-old has just 33 plate appearances in 2024, but he is slashing a respectable .250/.273/.594 with three HR, five RBI, and a stolen base. Robert Jr.'s power-speed skills have made him a high-end fantasy option throughout his career, but injuries have often prevented him from reaching his full potential. He should be plugged into fantasy managers' lineups as long as he is able to play.
Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (hip) is tracking toward a return in time for Tuesday's series opener against the crosstown-rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Working his way back from a strained right hip flexor, Robert is entering the final stages of his recovery and should be back available to fantasy managers and the last-place White Sox during the first week of June. While Robert's batting just .105 (2-for-19) across six outings on his minor-league rehab assignment, the 26-year-old All-Star slugger presents five-category fantasy upside when healthy and will be a welcome return to all rosters. Veteran Tommy Pham is slashing a solid .301/.348/.431 with three home runs, 12 RBI, 19 runs scored, and three stolen bases over 123 at-bats as the primary leadoff man on the South Side this season, but his streaming appeal is expiring.
