This Dodgers trade package could bring White Sox slugger Luis Robert Jr. to LA

During the offseason, all signs pointed to a fire sale on the south side of Chicago. The White Sox wrapped up the 2023 season with a dismal .377 record, and general manager Chris Getz went as far as to say that he "didn't like team." But that much-hyped sale never really happened; Dylan Cease rumors flew throughout the offseason before they eventually did let him go to the Padres, but that was really the only notable loss, outside of contracts expiring and guys leaving in free agency.

They did add, though: Erick Fedde, Martín Maldonado, and Paul DeJong were the biggest names, as the White Sox attempted to be just marginally better in 2024 than they had the year before.

Things have not worked out that way, though. The White Sox have started 15-46 (.246) for last in the AL Central and worst in MLB by far (they're almost 100 percentage points behind the 21-40 Marlins), and unless they want to languish in awfulness and call the season a wash, they're going to be major sellers at the deadline.

According to Jeff Passan, Chicago is willing to deal Luis Robert Jr., inarguably their best player and an All-Star, Silver Slugger, and MVP vote-getter last season (subscription required). Robert would solve a massive problem for the Dodgers: no one (except Teoscar Hernández) in the outfield is producing at the plate.

So what would it take for LA to make a trade happen? As the biggest piece of leverage the White Sox have, they won't (or at least shouldn't) let themselves get fleeced in a deal. In a hypothetical trade, we're proposing prospects Dalton Rushing, Josue De Paula, and Landon Knack to Chicago in exchange for Robert.

Dodgers-White Sox trade proposal for Luis Robert Jr. includes three top prospects

Now, hear us out. Rankings continue to shift, but Rushing and De Paula have typically landed at No. 1 or 2 for the Dodgers, and Knack got his feet wet in the majors for the first time this season to good effect. It would be a blow to the pipeline, but it's likely that the White Sox, with a farm system ranked in the bottom third of baseball by MLB Pipeline, would ask for even more to give up Robert, who's not only an offensive force but has three more years of team control on his current deal. Said deal also includes two club options for 2026 and 2027.

There are is a notable wrinkle here: Robert was just reactivated from the IL on Tuesday after an absence that dates back to April 6. He's only played in eight games so far this season, and although he hit decently (.250 average with a .594 slugging), he'll have to get back to hitting very well for the White Sox to justify such a steep price. Last year, he hit 38 homers, drove in 80 runs, and stole 20 bases, and he'll need to show that he can maintain that level of productivity in the less than two months before the deadline.

For the Dodgers, losing De Paula would be the biggest blow. Despite only being 19 and still a ways away from the majors, he's been one of the fastest-improving prospects in the system. Rushing and Knack would also be hard to watch walk, but Rushing's path is blocked by the long-term stays of both Will Smith and Freddie Freeman on the big league club, and considering the fact that the Dodgers might carry seven starters/de facto starters by the time Bobby Miller and Clayton Kershaw return (not to mention Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin on the IL, who will hopefully return next year), Knack might be more useful in a trade than on the mound.

There's always the possibility that any trade proposal for Robert would ask more of the Dodgers than they'd be willing to give, but he should at least be on their radar, and Andrew Friedman should actively be on the phone with Getz.