With trade rumors swirling, Luis Robert Jr. was pulled in the first inning of Wednesday’s game at Rate Field.
Austin Slater came in to pinch-hit, sparking speculation that Robert had been traded. However, CHSN’s Brooke Fletcher later reported that Robert exited due to left hamstring tightness and is undergoing further evaluation by the team.
Robert went 1-for-4 in Tuesday night’s game, including his eighth home run of the season. With trade rumors surrounding the former All-Star since the offseason, the White Sox are hoping he heats up to help boost his value and move his contract, so a potential injury to Robert couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic recently reported that White Sox general manager Chris Getz is willing to include cash in potential trades to help offset the salaries of the team’s two highest-paid players, Andrew Benintendi and Luis Robert Jr.
Robert, who turns 28 on August 3rd, is in the midst of one of his worst offensive seasons of his career. The White Sox centerfielder is slashing .185/.270/.313 with a 31.4% strikeout rate that ranks in the bottom four percent in baseball. Robert’s .311 xwOBA also ranks in the bottom third of the league.
However, Robert could still draw interest thanks to his Gold-Glove caliber defense in center field and 26 stolen bases, which rank near the top of the American League. Robert has also increased his walk rate to nearly 10% on the season, which is on pace to be a career high. But a .581 OPS is still a tough eyesore for other teams to overlook.
Robert is earning $15 million this season and has two club options for 2026 and 2027, each worth $20 million. He’s already proven he can perform at an All-Star level—most notably with a 38-home run campaign in 2023.
However, Robert has a history of lower-body injuries, making Wednesday’s scare particularly concerning. In 2023, he landed on the 10-day IL with a left MCL sprain, and in 2021, he missed significant time due to a right hip flexor strain.
