Reds rumors surrounding Luis Robert Jr. only make sense for one reason

Luis Robert Jr. has been a popular name throughout Reds Country for a few years now. The Chicago White Sox — one of the worst franchises in all of Major League Baseball — have been shopping Robert since 2023, and the Cincinnati Reds have been among the most prominent teams consistently linked to the former All-Star.

Robert, however, has not played up to his All-Star capabilities since 2023. After appearing 145 games that year, and hitting .264/.315/.542 with a 129 wRC+, the White Sox outfielder owns a collective .223/.288/.372 slash line with an 88 wRC+ over the past two seasons and has missed a combined 35% of Chicago's games.

Robert's lack of production certainly gives the Reds cause to pause, but so should his exorbitant salary. The White Sox picked up the 28-year-old's $20 million club-option for the 2026 season, and he has another $20-million option for 2027 as well.

Further complicating any type of trade involving Robert has been Chicago's lofty asking price. Despite his poor play the past two seasons and sky-high salary, the White Sox are still seeking a high-upside trade package in exchange for their fallen star.

Reds rumors surrounding Luis Robert Jr. only make sense if he can return to his All-Star form

Given Robert's subpar performance, his overpriced salary, Chicago's lofty trade demands, and the outfielder's injury-history, why in the world are the Reds even considering such a deal? Frankly, the only thing that makes a lick of sense is the idea that Robert needs a change of scenery — which is quite the gamble if indeed that's the Reds' line of thinking.

A change of scenery can certainly do wonders for a player who feels trapped with a perennial loser. Reds fans have seen several such players come through the organization over the past several seasons. After struggling with their previous team — perhaps one that perpetually loses 90-plus games every season — they then land with a contender and show that being part of a winning environment caused a change of habits and eventually production.

Playing for the White Sox organization over the past few seasons has got be demoralizing, doesn't it? Chicago has been in a state of rebuilding since 2021, and many of the holdovers from that year have since been traded. Dylan Cease, Lucas Giolito, Garrett Crochet, and most recently Andrew Vaughn were all able to find some sort of success away from the South Side of Chicago.

But Cease and Crochet were putting up terrific numbers before leaving Chicago. Giolito has been unable to stay healthy since leaving the White Sox, and while Vaughn showed flashes after joining the Milwaukee Brewers last season, one has to wonder if that success will translate into next season.

In other words, trading for a former star who's looking for a change of scenery isn't altogether a bad idea, but at the price the White Sox are seeking, it's quite risky. Without an alternative, however, it may be the only choice the Reds have left.