CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox are choosing up the $20 million possibility on middle fielder Luis Robert Jr.’s contract for 2026, sources inform ESPN.
Robert, 27, hit .223 with 14 house runs and 33 stolen bases final season whereas enjoying in 110 video games. The oft-injured veteran hasn’t produced at a excessive stage over the past two years however continues to own an elite talent set. His largest enchancment got here in decreasing his strikeout totals. He had 172 in 2023. That fell to 141 in 2024 and simply 112 final season.
Whereas the strikeouts have gone down — he is chasing fewer unhealthy pitches — so have his house runs. After hitting 38 in 2023, he is mixed for simply 28 over the past two seasons.
Robert has been the topic of commerce rumors for the reason that White Sox started an prolonged rebuild at first of 2024 however the group has held out for a excessive return, citing his previous success. He had an .857 OPS in 2023 after enjoying in a profession excessive 145 video games that season. He simply hasn’t been in a position to repeat these numbers, limiting the gives the White Sox have acquired so far. He had an OPS of .657 in 2024 and .661 in 2025.
Robert’s 6-year, $50 million contract ran out on the finish of this season. The group has one other $20 million possibility on him for 2027 as effectively.