White Sox GM's response reveals why Reds couldn't agree on Luis Robert Jr. trade

There was a lot of offseason chatter centered around Luis Robert Jr. with the assumption that he'd be dealt before Opening Day. The Cincinnati Reds were one of a handful of teams who were mentioned as a top trade destination for the former All-Star, but a deal never came to fruition.

The Chicago White Sox made a late-spring trade last year — dealing Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres — but it sounds as if Robert is staying on the South Side of Chicago, at least for now. White Sox GM Chris Getz recently spoke to MLB Network about his team's offseason transactions, and the chief decision maker in Chicago's front office had a lot to say about Robert's standing heading into 2025.

"Luis has gotten a ton of attention," Getz said. "And I say that because he's got superstar ability. And for us, we just got to keep this guy on the field...We're looking at an All-Star-type player and I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't garners some MVP votes."

White Sox GM's response reveals why Reds couldn't agree on Luis Robert Jr. trade

Rumors emerged earlier this offseason that Cincinnati and Chicago had discussed a potential deal involving Robert. But once some of the details started to emerge, Reds fans understood why Nick Krall turned his attention elsewhere.

The White Sox wanted at least two of the Reds' top five prospects. Edwin Arroyo's name was specifically mentioned, and it's safe to assume that players like Cam Collier, Sal Stewart, and maybe even Chase Petty were part of the discussion as well.

Getz's comments reveal exactly why Chicago has set such a high price for the oft-injured Robert. The White Sox view Robert as an All-Star-caliber player with MVP upside. That's all well and good, and may very well be an accurate evaluation, but Krall and Co. see a high-risk investment who's only played more than 100 games once during his five-year major league career. Not only that, but Robert is coming off his worst season ever after hitting .224/.278/.379 in 2024.

When you couple Robert's down-year with the salary attached, there's no way to justify the price tag that Getz and the White Sox front office put on their starting centerfielder. As Getz alluded to, the key is keeping Robert on the field. If Chicago is able to do that, perhaps Cincinnati will revisit a potential deal as the July trade deadline approaches.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors