The Chicago White Sox are slogging through a tough season. Player movement and struggles seem to define their year so far.
The team’s deep in a rebuild, and trade rumors keep swirling around names like Luis Robert Jr. Robert’s got potential, but lately, he hasn’t delivered, which makes trade talks tricky.
The White Sox have shuffled their roster a bit, too. They recently signed Adrian Houser and started Andrew Benintendi on a rehab stint.
Let’s dig into what’s going on with these players and what it might mean for the Sox.
Luis Robert Jr.: A Trade Chip in Turmoil
For more than a year, Luis Robert Jr. has lived in the center of trade rumors. The White Sox are rebuilding, and he was once a big piece of their future.
But things have changed. Robert made the All-Star team in 2023, but his numbers now? Not so great.
Declining Performance
Last year, Robert missed a couple months with a hip flexor strain. Since coming back, he’s hit just .224/.278/.379 with 14 home runs in 100 games.
The Sox had hoped for a bounce-back, but his stats keep dropping. At the moment, Robert’s batting .186/.281/.308 over 180 plate appearances.
He’s walking more, with a career-best 11.7% walk rate. But his strikeouts have jumped to 29%, and his power is fading.
Robert even admitted his struggles are killing his trade value. Through an interpreter, he said, Right now, as my season is going, I don’t think anybody is going to take a chance on me.
Defensive Prowess and Physical Tools
Even with the bat issues, Robert still plays a solid center field. He actually leads MLB with 17 stolen bases right now.
His tools are still really interesting, but he just can’t match his 2021-23 numbers of .287/.331/.511. The Sox owe him the rest of his $15 million salary, plus there are $20 million club options for the next two years.
Honestly, it’s hard to see the team picking up those options at this point.
Adrian Houser’s Impact on the Rotation
On the pitching side, the White Sox just locked up Adrian Houser to a one-year deal. Houser wasted no time—he threw six scoreless innings against Seattle in a 1-0 win his first time out.
That outing shook up the pitching plans quite a bit.
Rotation Adjustments
Manager Will Venable said Houser’s signing bumped Bryse Wilson back to the bullpen. Wilson started the year in relief, then moved to the rotation after MartÃn Pérez got hurt.
But Wilson struggled as a starter, posting a 5.28 ERA in 10 relief outings and giving up 13 runs in 17 2/3 innings over four starts. He’s out of minor league options, so the Sox can’t just send him down.
Looks like Wilson will serve as a long reliever now, giving the bullpen some extra depth.
Andrew Benintendi’s Road to Recovery
Andrew Benintendi, another key piece, just started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte. He’s been out for two weeks with a strained calf.
The Sox really want him back in the lineup soon.
Rehab Assignment Performance
In his first rehab game, Benintendi went 0-4 with a strikeout as the DH. Before the injury, he was hitting .224/.298/.400 with five homers in 24 games.
A healthy Benintendi would be a big boost for the outfield. Austin Slater’s been filling in at left field, but it’s not quite the same.
The Chicago White Sox are in a period of transition. Several key players face uncertain futures.
It’s tough to ignore Luis Robert Jr.’s recent struggles, especially since they complicate any trade talks. The team also brought in Adrian Houser, which means the pitching rotation’s getting a shake-up.
Andrew Benintendi’s still working through rehab. Maybe he’ll spark the offense when he returns, but honestly, who knows?
For more detailed information and updates on these developments, you can visit the original article on MLB Trade Rumors.
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