Does it make sense for the Chicago White Sox to trade their center fielder, Luis Robert Jr., in the same week they sign Munetaka Murakami and take tangible steps toward improving the roster? That depends on who you ask.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not particularly eager to see the White Sox move Robert Jr.—at least not with a trade market that appears hesitant to gamble on his upside.

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If I’m GM Chris Getz, I keep Robert as my Opening Day center fielder. I run him out there every day through the first half of the season. If he’s productive and returns to form the way the organization hopes, you’re looking at a potential king’s ransom at the trade deadline. And if the White Sox are more competitive than expected? Maybe he stays put for the entire season.

Even if Robert looks more like the player we saw in 2024 and 2025, he still brings real value: elite defense in center field, top-tier speed, power, and the ability to punish left-handed pitching. That profile alone should net something meaningful at the deadline—even with an expiring contract and club option looming.

That said, the White Sox would be foolish not to listen. If a team is willing to overpay for upside, Getz should absolutely keep an open mind.

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For a while, it looked like the Cincinnati Reds might be that team.

Cincinnati is coming off an 83–79 season in 2025 that snuck into the National League playoffs as the final Wild Card. Their postseason run was short-lived, ending quickly against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but it served as proof that the Reds aren’t far from being a legitimate playoff team.

Sometimes that’s all it takes for a front office to feel emboldened. Early signs suggested the Reds planned to be aggressive this winter, but that push hasn’t fully materialized.

They came up short in the Kyle Schwarber sweepstakes despite his Cincinnati roots. Their only notable additions have been re-signing Emilio Pagán to close games and adding Caleb Ferguson to the bullpen—modest upgrades at best.

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Meanwhile, the Reds are losing Nick Martinez, Zack Littell, Scott Barlow, Brent Suter, and Austin Hays—players who played meaningful roles on the 2025 roster. There’s clearly work to be done, but Cincinnati is also operating with budget constraints. That’s where a trade for upside, rather than a splashy free-agent signing, made sense.

Luis Robert Jr. carries a $20 million club option for 2026, and the White Sox have reportedly been willing to eat some of that money to improve the return. That kind of flexibility gives acquiring teams the chance to land a well-above-replacement outfielder with All-Star upside for closer to $10 million per year in payroll.

For a moment, the fit looked perfect. Bob Nightengale reported after the Murakami signing that the White Sox were pivoting their focus toward Robert trade talks, with the Reds and Mets emerging as the most involved teams. Reds beat writer Gordon Wittenmyer added that Cincinnati had already made an offer earlier in the offseason, talks were ongoing, and one source believed a deal could happen before the end of the week.

That no longer appears likely.

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On Saturday morning, the Reds addressed their outfield by signing JJ Bleday.

Bleday hit 14 home runs with a .698 OPS for the Athletics in 2025, but showed more promise in 2024 when he posted 43 doubles, 20 home runs, and a .762 OPS. Some of the underlying metrics are concerning, but Bleday brings a strong arm, solid plate discipline, and a left-handed bat—traits Cincinnati values. At 28, there’s still some upside to tap into.

With Bleday now in the mix alongside Gavin Lux, Will Benson, TJ Friedl, and Noelvi Marte, it’s fair to wonder whether the Reds are still shopping for a center-field bat at all.

If that’s the case, it likely removes the best potential trade partner from the board for the White Sox. Cincinnati felt like the one team desperate enough to push past industry expectations, and without that leverage, it’s hard to see a deal getting done unless another club steps up in a major way.

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Getz hasn’t wavered on his asking price, and he appears perfectly comfortable heading into the season with Robert Jr. patrolling center field.

How that impacts the rest of the offseason remains to be seen. But I’m not losing sleep over the idea of Luis Robert Jr. still wearing a White Sox uniform in 2026.

Things can always change after the New Year, once free agents settle and priorities shift. But one thing won’t: the price it’s going to take to make this trade happen.