As the trade deadline approached this summer, the Chicago White Sox were frequently mentioned in MLB trade rumors. Although teams can’t finalize trades until the offseason, new speculation about the White Sox’s winter plans has already surfaced.
The team signaled its strategy a year ago by trading All Star pitcher Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres before the season started. In the following months, the White Sox began trading away various players and made nearly their entire roster available for trade.
Chicago wasn’t able to accomplish all of its goals this summer. Just before the trade deadline, MLB rumors suggested that starting pitcher Garrett Crochet would not pitch in October without a contract extension, which significantly reduced his trade value and prompted the White Sox to adjust their offseason plans.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the White Sox plan to trade Crochet this offseason and are also looking to move All-Star outfielder Luis Robert Jr. in the coming winter.
At just 25 years old, Crochet will be finishing his first season with over 140 innings pitched in the majors. Teams will no longer need to worry about managing his workload during a playoff push, and a long-term extension could be considered after he is acquired.
Luis Robert’s trade value is more nuanced. Although he was an All-Star in 2023 and had an impressive .857 OPS last year with 38 home runs, along with a .338/.378/.567 slash line and a .946 OPS in 2021, this season has been his least successful in the majors.
The White Sox will remain optimistic that Robert’s performance improves in September and returns to his All-Star form. Regardless of whether he does, anticipate numerous MLB trade rumors this winter involving teams interested in both Crochet and Robert.
Be the first to comment