Padres wisely walked from Luis Robert Jr. after absurd White Sox demands

Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox was considered one of the hottest commodities at the trade deadline. Teams like the Phillies and Mets were constantly checking in with Chicago’s front office about a possible trade.

Along with the two NL East juggernauts, the Padres were also making phone calls to Chicago in hopes of filling a void in the outfield. However, when reports came out about the asking price for Robert Jr., negotiations came to a screeching halt.

Padres would not budge on trade for Luis Robert Jr. ahead of trade deadline

The Padres were considered front runners for Luis Robert Jr. until the team acquired Ramón Laureano from the Baltimore Orioles—a move that could have spared the team more prospect capital.

According to multiple reports, the New York Mets submitted an offer for Robert, but the Sox countered, saying they wanted either Mark Vientos or Luisangel Acuña in return.

While Robert Jr. has flashed the potential to be a five-tool player who can hit, field, and run the bases exceptionally well, his production has been way down this year, especially at the plate. The 28-year-old’s stats leading up to the July 31 trade deadline were incredibly underwhelming as he posted a slash line of .213/.300/.353 with a wRC+ of 81.

In 2020, the White Sox signed Robert Jr. to a six-year contract extension worth $60 million, keeping him under club control through 2028. This means whoever paid the price for him would in all likelihood be adding the contract to their payroll.

The Padres, as we know, have dismantled their farm system in exchange for MLB talent, so you could only imagine what the White Sox would want in return for Robert Jr.

In 2025, Ramón Laureano has been an incredibly solid bat, slashing .291/.352/.533 with a wRC+ of 144. While his defense and baserunning don’t quite compare with Robert’s, San Diego got Laureano at a much better price. On top of that, they also received Ryan O’Hearn in the deal. 

Big props to A.J. Preller and the front office for not overpaying for mid-tier production, especially since the team already has a depleted farm system.