Bob Nightengale dropped a bombshell this morning when he revealed that the White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers have discussed a trade that would involve sending outfielder Luis Robert Jr. to Los Angeles in exchange for outfielder James Outman and a "front-line" prospect.
Nightengale added that the talks have been "tabled" for now. However, these discussions are a new development in the ongoing Robert Jr. trade saga, especially considering that the teams started discussing specific players.
Dodgers Interest In Robert Jr. Is Logical
The Dodgers' interest in Robert Jr. makes sense. Entering the day, their center fielders have combined to hit just .154 with a .600 OPS on the season. Andy Pages has been their starting center fielder up to this point, and despite being a once top prospect, he has not produced to the level the Dodgers expect. Robert Jr. would be a substantial upgrade over Pages, even factoring in his poor 2024 season and cold start to 2025.
There are other factors involving Robert Jr. that could intrigue the Dodgers as well. His contract includes two team options for 2026 and 2027 at $20 million each. Assuming those options are exercised, he could be their solution in center field for the next several years. The change of scenery aspect is also a notable aspect of these discussions from the Dodgers' perspective. It is fair to assume that moving from the lowly White Sox to a new environment in Los Angeles with a winning team and stacked lineup would rejuvenate Robert Jr. and potentially help him return to his 2023 form. This trade would turn the Dodgers' one arguable weakness into a position of strength.
Logical From White Sox Perspective
While trading away Robert Jr. would further decimate the talent at the MLB level, trading him makes sense for the White Sox as well. They likely will not be serious contenders over the next few years, squandering the remainder of Robert Jr.'s current contract in the process. And if this past offseason's Garrett Crochet trade is any indication, Chris Getz and the rest of the White Sox front office are not afraid to punt the present for the future. Robert Jr. is the team's best-remaining trade chip and could be used to obtain more young talent to fit the team's future timeline better.
James Outman
James Outman was specifically mentioned in Nightengale's report. After a strong 2023 season in which he hit 23 home runs and was 14% better than the league average hitter, Outman has fallen on hard times of late. He struggled immensely in 2024, hitting just .147 in 53 games. The Dodgers phased him off their roster towards the later part of the season. He did not appear in any of their postseason games en route to their World Series title. Outman has spent the 2025 season at the AAA level, where he has continued to struggle.
Given the White Sox current outfield situation at the MLB level, there is a path to at-bats for Outman. Injuries have decimated the roster, and career minor leaguers and low-upside veterans represent the next level of reinforcements. Outman could valuable to the White Sox given that he has been successful at the MLB level in the past and has over five years of team control remaining. However, he will turn 28 soon and is actually older than Robert Jr. by several months. At this stage, he should be nothing more than a change of scenery candidate in a trade like this one.
Dodgers Top Prospects
Nightengale mentioned a "front-line" prospect as part of the Dodgers package. That is where the value lies for the White Sox. They have six top 100 prospects per MLB.com, though it is fair to cross a few off the list immediately. Roki Sasaki, their best prospect at the moment, obviously is not going anywhere. Catcher Dalton Rushing would also likely not be involved, given that the White Sox already have two top catching prospects. And while teams always need pitching, obtaining position players is the primary goal right now for the White Sox. That likely rules out left-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris as part of these discussions. Even with some names likely being off the table, the Dodgers still have some intriguing prospects to offer.
Josue De Paula
Josue De Paula is the Dodgers #3 prospect and the #37 prospect in MLB. The 6'3, 185-pound, 19-year-old left-handed hitting outfielder has massive power and exit velocities. De Paula put up an .809 OPS in 108 games split between the Low-A and High-A levels last season, with his on-base percentage over .400. The White Sox have recently shifted their attention to acquiring players with high on-base skills, making him a logical target. James Fox of FutureSox specifically mentioned De Paula's name as part of this rumor. He could be a name to watch in this potential trade framework.
Alex Freeland
Alex Freeland is a 6'0, 200-pound switch-hitting infielder and is currently the Dodgers #5 prospect and the #68 prospect in MLB. The 23-year-old has 60-grade arm strength and should be able to stay at shortstop in the eyes of scouts. He can also hit, as he put up a .387 on-base percentage and .829 OPS, along with 32 doubles, 18 home runs, and 31 stolen bases over 137 games across the High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A levels last season. Given the concerns with Colson Montgomery and his uncertainty about staying at shortstop in the long term, Freeland could make sense as a target to be the shortstop of the future. Bringing Freeland into the fold would allow Montgomery to shift to third base, which could better fit him defensively over the long haul.
Zyhir Hope
Zyhir Hope is also an interesting talent. The Dodgers #6 prospect and the #71 prospect in MLB, Hope's prospect stock skyrocketed last season. The 5'10, 193-pound, 20-year-old left-handed hitting outfielder has done nothing but hit since being drafted. In 55 games at the Low-A level last season, Hope hit .287 with a .415 on-base percentage and a .905 OPS. He represents a very high-upside player who could make sense for the White Sox to target.
Emil Morales
Emil Morales is not yet on top 100 prospect lists, but he likely will be soon. The 18-year-old, 6'3, 191-pound right-hitting shortstop dominated the Dominican Summer League last year. He is the farthest away from MLB of any of these prospects but could be worth gambling on before his prospect status skyrockets.
Final Word
There are a lot of moving parts as part of this proposal, which is likely why it has been tabled for now according to Nightengale. The next several months will be crucial for Robert Jr. and will determine how much of a return the White Sox will get for him. The Dodgers are a logical landing spot for him in any case. This possibility is worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses closer to the trade deadline.
