Amid the flurry of Cincinnati Reds news last week, one tidbit may have outraged some fans with high expectations for this offseason. Reds fans have flooded social media over the last few months begging for different additions to the team.
Whether via free agency or the trade market, one common theme is the outcry for an outfield bat. With this in mind, an interview on Thursday with Jim Bowden, a CBS Sports analyst and MLB Insider, may have outraged some passionate fans.
Did the Reds miss the boat after casting aside the opportunity to trade for White Sox star Luis Robert Jr.?
The Chicago White Sox historically woeful season in 2024 created need for a massive overhaul of the roster. Due to this, many have speculated that Luis Robert Jr. would be the next big name to be traded away from the Southside of Chicago.
After the Reds' acquisition of outfielder Austin Hayes, news broke that Cincinnati was previously attempting to acquire Robert, but the price was too high. How high you may ask? According to Bowden, the White Sox wanted two legitimate top five prospects from the Reds. Shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo was one of the names that leaked last week.
Is Robert really worth two top five organizational prospects? Robert has sustained limited consistency throughout his five years in the majors. In 2021 he hit .338/.378./.567 over 68 games, but was placed on the injured list twice. In 2022, Robert played in 98 games but found himself on the IL three separate times. A year later, Robert enjoyed his best year as a pro, hitting 38 home runs and stealing 20 bases over 145 games. But in 2024, Robert landed on the IL once again and missed about two months worth of playing time.
A huge problem with last year's Reds team was all the injuries. Given Robert's contract and injury history, two top prospects seems like a bit of a stretch. By the end of the 2025 season, Reds fans may be thankful the team decided to sign Austin Hayes rather than give up two top prospects for Robert.