Sunday, March 02

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The first locker to the left upon entering the White Sox clubhouse at their Camelback Ranch facilities belongs to Luis Robert Jr.

But Robert joked with his teammates on Friday about not being sure how long he’ll keep that particular locker.

“Every player that sits in this locker is gone,” a smiling Robert told MLB.com of his clubhouse humor, through interpreter Billy Russo. “I might be the next one.

“I try to enjoy this time here. I try to enjoy being with my teammates and the clubhouse. Just trying to enjoy the whole experience.”

Robert was referencing José Abreu and Yoán Moncada as the past occupants of that door adjacent space before him. Abreu, the third-leading home run hitter in White Sox history with 243, moved to Houston via free agency prior to the 2023 season, but he is currently out of baseball. Moncada played on Friday night at Camelback Ranch against the Dodgers, but as the Angels’ new starting third baseman.

Add in Tim Anderson playing shortstop and even trying out the outfield for Halos manager Ron Washington and Eloy Jiménez working on a Minor League deal with the Rays, and Robert is really the last one standing from the core five at the center of the last White Sox rebuild.

It was a vast talent accumulation targeting multiple White Sox championships, but instead, brought them just two playoff victories.

Now, in this latest incarnation, beginning Year 2 of the rebuild process, Robert becomes a way to enhance the young talent pool via trade. It’s not as if the center fielder with five-tool talent isn’t a young, accomplished performer himself at age 27 and with five seasons on his resume, but he also earns $15 million in 2025 with a pair of $20 million team options and a $2 million buyout each year for ’26 and ’27, putting him in that trade category.

Since beginning camp on Feb. 17, when White Sox position players had their first workout, Robert has said, and of course done, all the right things concerning solely being focused on getting ready for the season and helping his current team. He’s also only human and can’t help but wonder where his future plays out.

Dylan Cease was named the 2024 White Sox Opening Day starter in late January by then-manager Pedro Grifol and cruised through Spring Training before being traded to the Padres on March 13. Garrett Crochet developed into one of the game’s best starters thanks to his dedicated work under the White Sox watch, only to be dealt to the Red Sox on the last day of the previous Winter Meetings.

When Crochet was traded, Robert had some thoughts of being the next to go.

“Yes, a little bit,” Robert said. “I know during the offseason there were a lot of rumors flying around and you see reports with my name in there. But my agent told me, ‘If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. But don’t try to pay attention to it.’”

Robert’s family discusses this same trade topic, but they are on the same page as him.

“They said it’s something we can’t control and at the same time, just like me, they are kind of anxious to see what’s going to happen because they’ve seen me just play for this one team here, right?” Robert said. “Like I said before, this has been the only team I’ve played for. But that’s part of this business. Nothing we can control.”

What Robert can try to control is avoiding those injuries hampering his full rise to elite status. When Robert suffered a right hip flexor strain last April 5 in Kansas City, he admitted to not even running at his hardest in that ninth inning as he rounded first and thought about stretching a single into a double.

It's frustrating for a physically gifted individual who works diligently. But Robert produced one of the most complete efforts statistically in White Sox history during the 2023 campaign and knows that campaign basically stands as his starting point for success—wherever he might be playing.

“That’s the most difficult part, because I take a lot of pride in my job and my preparation. When things like that happen, it can affect me for sure,” Robert said. “If I’m able to play a full year with no injuries, not missing time, I think what I did in 2023 is the baseline for me. But I need to play a full year.”

“He seems to be in a really good place,” general manager Chris Getz said of Robert. “I look forward to what I believe is going to be a real productive season for Luis.”

• Third baseman Bryan Ramos, who was dealing with right elbow soreness since the outset of Spring Training, is about to be introduced to a throwing program, according to Getz, after doing everything but throwing until this point.

 
• Kudos to veteran southpaw Martín Pérez for his comments considering the White Sox as contenders. Whether those words are prophetic or not, it’s the attitude every player should have.

• The White Chocolate Grill in Scottsdale never lets me down. I made my annual trip this week, and along with great dinner company, had great food as always.

• Once again, my sincerest apologies to the people staying in the hotel room next to me during the amazing victory for Michigan men’s basketball on Thursday. My language wasn’t the greatest for about two hours, and they probably thought I won a $200 million Powerball jackpot when Nimari Burnett hit the last second shot.

• The Michael Jordan No. 45 White Sox jersey is one of the most prevalent viewed among the team’s fan base in Arizona. Jason Beck, our top-notch Tigers reporter, texted me about seeing Jordan’s White Sox jersey in Lakeland, Fla., so it’s clearly trending.

“Let’s just get the next outing.” -- a smiling Getz, as to whether Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith, the top two left-handed pitching prospects in the game (No. 16 and No. 34 overall) per MLB Pipeline, are soon destined for the Majors

“First of all, huge forearms to absorb that blow.” -- manager Will Venable, on pitcher Bryse Wilson, who took a Jake Cronenworth grounder off his right forearm as the first batter he faced on Wednesday, but he still stayed in and pitched two scoreless innings

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