The trade chatter surrounding Luis Robert Jr. has been one of the more intriguing subplots of the White Sox offseason. Despite consistent buzz over the past year, the dynamic center fielder remains on Chicago’s roster, and for now, that doesn’t appear likely to change.

After a strong second half in 2025-cut short by a hamstring injury in August-the White Sox exercised Robert’s $20 million option for next season. On paper, it was a no-brainer.

When healthy, Robert flashes elite tools on both sides of the ball. But durability and consistency have been persistent issues, and that’s made General Manager Chris Getz’s job a tough one when it comes to finding the right trade partner.

Getz has publicly stated he expects Robert to be with the team next season. And while that could be standard GM speak, it might also be a reflection of the market-or lack thereof.

According to a recent report, the Mets did kick the tires on Robert. But there’s a catch: they reportedly wanted the White Sox to eat part of his salary to make a deal work.

That’s where things hit a snag. Team owner Jerry Reinsdorf, known for his firm stance on financial matters, is reportedly unwilling to send money along in any deal-especially not to a big spender like Mets owner Steve Cohen.

That’s a sticking point that could stall any serious trade talks.

From the Mets’ perspective, this is telling. This is a team with the deepest pockets in the league, yet they’re hesitant to take on Robert’s $20 million salary without some financial offset.

That says a lot about how the league views Robert right now: as a player with immense upside, but also real question marks. When even the richest team in baseball is asking for help covering the check, it’s a signal that Robert’s current value isn’t matching his contract.

The White Sox have had chances to move him before. At the trade deadline, there were rumblings of talks with the Mets involving prospects like Luisangel Acuña, Brett Baty, and Mark Vientos.

But it’s unclear how serious those discussions ever got-or whether those names were truly available. What is clear is that no deal materialized, and the lack of salary relief from Chicago was likely a major reason why.

That’s the challenge Getz is facing. He’s trying to reshape the roster, modernize the organization, and build toward something more sustainable.

But when ownership draws a hard line on financial flexibility, it limits what’s possible. You can have a willing GM and a motivated trade partner, but if the money doesn’t line up, deals fall apart.

And so, Robert remains in Chicago. The team holds another $20 million option for 2026, so there’s no pressure to move him immediately. But unless he comes out swinging in the first half of next season-both literally and figuratively-the trade market may not improve much.

The White Sox are in a bit of a holding pattern. They have a player with All-Star potential and a contract that’s manageable if he performs. But they also have an owner unwilling to subsidize a trade, and a market that’s skeptical of Robert’s ability to stay on the field and produce at a high level over a full season.

For now, the plan is to keep Robert in center field and hope he plays his way back into elite territory. If that happens, the trade market might reopen with better options. If not, he may simply remain part of the White Sox core through 2026-whether that’s part of a turnaround or another chapter in a long rebuild remains to be seen.