Dodgers insider speculates another trade with White Sox could be preferable over free agency

While the Dodgers still seem to prioritizing a reunion with Teoscar Hernández to fill their newly open spot in right field, it shouldn't come as a shock if they also keep a couple of contingencies in their back pocket. Mark Feinsand connected Anthony Santander to LA this week; although Santander would be a bit of a downgrade by almost every metric, he wouldn't be a bad replacement should Dodgers-Hernández talks fall through.

Hernández and Santander are the best corner outfielders left on the free agent market, and both have other suitors who could tempt them away if the Dodgers flinch.

However, there could still be options for the Dodgers to explore on the trade market. In a mailbag for The Athletic, Dodgers insider Fabian Ardaya named White Sox star Luis Robert Jr. as a name to watch out for (subscription required).

Robert was dangled as a trade candidate at the deadline this year, and the Dodgers reportedly did have conversations with the White Sox about a Robert-Garrett Crochet blockbuster. Robert made all of his starts in center field this year, and the Dodgers have already confirmed that Tommy Edman will be their primary center fielder in 2025, but Edman could be easy enough to shift to the corner if the Dodgers are ever really interested in Robert.

Fabian Ardaya names Luis Robert Jr. as a potential Dodgers replacement for Teoscar Hernández

Robert would easily be a last resort if the Dodgers can't get Hernández or Santander; he's coming off of his worst season by far, both health- and performance-wise. He was on the shelf from April to June with a hip strain and was unproductive during the 100 games he managed to play in, batting .224 with a .657 OPS as he completely failed to live up to his $12.5 million price tag.

He'll be owed $15 million in 2025, which is chump change for the Dodgers but not so for the White Sox. Still, Chicago has made a lot less noise about moving him this offseason than they did at the trade deadline, before Robert sunk his value with his performance through the second half of the season.

The Reds, among others, are also said to be interested in him, and there's still stuff to like about both him and his contract. There are club options built into his extension for both 2026 and 2027, which could make it easy for a team to take him on something of a trial basis. He's still just 27 and was an All-Star who received MVP votes in 2023.

Again, Robert isn't an ideal solution, but the Dodgers could try to reopen that already established line of communication with the White Sox if all else fails.