3 Reds-White Sox blockbuster trade proposals to bring Garrett Crochet to Cincy

Reds-White Sox blockbuster trade includes Garrett Crochet & Luis Robert Jr.

Reds receive: Garrett Crochet (LHP), Luis Robert Jr. (OF)
White Sox receive: Andrew Abbott (LHP), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (IF), Cam Collier (IF), Ricardo Cabrera (SS)

Okay, deep breath here, folks. One thing that every single Reds fan continues to talk about is Cincinnati's lack of a power-hitting outfielder. Well, it just so happens that the White Sox have one, and he's said to be available. Luis Robert Jr. (when healthy) is one of the best players in the game. Perhaps the Reds and White Sox could work out a blockbuster deal that would include both Crochet and Robert.

Before we get into the details, it must be understood that a deal like this comes with a lot of risk. Robert had an All-Star season in 2023, but played in only 100 games last season and his OPS dropped 200 points. Robert suffered hip injury in early-April and his performance suffered because of it. Is he fully healthy? That remains to be seen.

Robert is also owed $15 million next season with a $20 million team-option for 2026 and 2027. Both Robert's health and contract have to be factored into the equation, and there's always a chance that a trade for both he and Crochet could include cash considerations to help pay down the remainder of the deal. The Reds received something similar during their 2018 trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers that brought Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Kyle Farmer, and Matt Kemp to the Queen City.

But if the Reds were able to lure both Crochet and Robert away from the South Side, they'll have to give up something big in return. Andrew Abbott struggled a bit last season and ended the season on the IL, but when he's right, the lefty is one of the Reds' best pitchers. However, having already added Brady Singer and signed Nick Martinez, you can understand how one of Abbott, Nick Lodolo, or Rhett Lowder could become expendable. One of those pitchers would likely need to be included in order pull off this type of trade.

The White Sox would want a proven major league bat as well. Though Christian Encarnacion-Strand spent most of his 2024 season on the IL, there's some major pop in his bat. Cincinnati has enough corner infielders — both in the major and minor leagues — to the weather the storm of losing CES.

The kicker, however, would be the White Sox's instance to include a top prospect. A player like Edwin Arroyo probably isn't enough to get a deal done, which would mean the Reds may have to sacrifice their future for the present. Many scouts believe Cam Collier to be the real deal, but Chicago could never justify this type of trade unless they were to receive a potential star like Collier in return.

As for the final piece of the puzzle, Ricardo Cabrera is a defensive-minded shortstop who ranks among the top-10 within the Reds' organization. With Arroyo, Sammy Stafura, and Tyson Lewis all in the Reds' farm system, Cincinnati can afford to part ways with one of their many shortstop prospects. If Cabrera isn't enough to pull off this type of trade, one of the aforementioned infield prospects could be substituted.

These are the types of trades that prospect huggers hate, and only the White Sox truly know what type of evaluation they've put on Crochet (and Robert). But the Reds haven't won a postseason series since 1995, and these are the types of deals that could put them in line to break that streak in 2025.

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