Dodgers Held Trade Talks With White Sox for Luis Robert Jr: Report
Between Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting lineup is loaded with talent.
However, general manager Brandon Gomes seems interested in bringing in additional MLB All-Star players.
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According to a report from USA Today's Bob Nightengale on Sunday, the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox held trade discussions about Chicago's center fielder, Luis Robert Jr.
Nightengale did not mention whether the talks between the two clubs occurred during the offseason or were recent.
He noted that, for now, the two teams' discussion has stopped and that the deal would have sent Dodgers outfielder James Outman and a "front-line prospect" to the White Sox.
Robert Jr. is two years removed from earning his first All-Star selection and winning the Silver Slugger at center field in the American League. In 2023, he hit a career-high 38 home runs and posted a 130 OPS+.
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A right hip flexor strain in April 2024 limited Robert Jr. to 100 games last season, and he slashed a poor .224/.278/.379 with a .657 OPS.
Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) watches his two-run home run during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Rate Field.Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Currently, the Dodgers have Andy Pages receiving most of the reps in center field, but the 24-year-old is off to a slow start in 2025, hitting .149 with 19 strikeouts in 55 plate appearances.
The White Sox are clearly in a rebuilding phase. In recent seasons, they have dealt their former stars to acquire prospects and strengthen the farm system.
In March 2024, Chicago traded starting pitcher Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres. In December, they agreed to a trade with the Boston Red Sox, sending lefty Garrett Crochet to Boston in exchange for four prospects, including catcher Kyle Teel, rated No. 29 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list.
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Outman began the year at Triple-A Oklahoma City after displaying above-average power at the MLB level in 2023, hitting 23 home runs as a rookie.
A jam-packed Dodgers outfield of Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman, Pages, and Michael Conforto left little wiggle room for Los Angeles to carry Outman on the active roster to start the season.
There's still a possibility that Robert Jr. may be traded during the year, but the 27-year-old, who was batting .163 with a .250 OBP after Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Red Sox, remains with the White Sox for the time being.
Related: Dodgers Trade Idea Lands Former Yankees Star Gleyber Torres for Prospect Haul
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