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The first-year general manager reportedly is
under order to slash payroll, but Robert is under contract as
part of a six-year, $50 million deal he signed in 2019. The
Silver Slugger Award winner in 2023 also received 21 votes for
American League MVP -- more than New York Yankees ace Gerrit
Cole and Texas Rangers slugger Adolis Garcia -- but the White
Sox finished with 101 losses and a long-term rebuild is
expected.
Robert, 26, hit .264 with 38 home runs in 2023 and would draw
significant trade interest if Getz truly makes him available to
suitors. Another slugging outfielders rumored to be on the trade
market in the offseason includes Juan Soto of the San Diego
Padres. The 25-year-old Soto hit .275 with 35 home runs and 109
RBIs in 2023.
Right-hander Cease, 27, was the 2022 AL Cy Young Award runner-up
with a 2.20 ERA but jumped to a 4.58 ERA last season.
While Getz referred to him as a valuable front-of-the-rotation
piece for the White Sox, his trade value might speed up a
rebuild on the South Side.
Cease pitched last season on a one-year, $5.7 million contract
he signed to avoid arbitration and said the White Sox hadn't
mentioned a long-term extension.
"I'd always be open to something that's a fair, good deal. To my
knowledge, there's nothing in the works in that regard," Cease
said, "but I love Chicago, and I'd always be open to having a
dialogue for sure."
Sellers at the trade deadline, the farm system already received
a boost from trading away right-handed starters Lucas Giolito
(Los Angeles Angels) and Lance Lynn (Los Angeles Dodgers).
Chicago included right-handed reliever Joe Kelly in the Lynn
deal and received right-handers Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure
and outfielder Trayce Thompson in return.
Getz was named general manager after the White Sox fired Rick
Hahn and president Ken Williams in August.
--Field Level Media
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