Luis Robert Next Team Odds: La Pantera Moves on From Disastrous White Sox

The Chicago White Sox stink out loud. At 27-76, they are by far the worst team in baseball. A true embarrassment from both an on-field and behind-the-scenes perspective. They are years away from being relevant and need to tear the whole thing down to the foundation to execute an actual rebuild.

With Andrew Benintendi holding onto an unmovable contract (signed through 2027 with $49.3 million due after this year), the ChiSox will have to get creative, which means trading anyone who holds even the remotest value ahead of next Tuesday's trade deadline.

Luis Robert is the cream of the hitter crop, with Garrett Crochet the most coveted arm. Today, I'm looking at the MLB odds surrounding Robert's next team. Let's dive in.

Luis Robert next team odds

Team
Chicago White Sox	+175
Philadelphia Phillies	+200
Los Angeles Dodgers	+450
Seattle Mariners	+750
Pittsburgh Pirates	+1,300
Chicago Cubs	+1,400
Kansas City Royals	+1,500
Any other team	+1,500
Houston Astros	+1,600
Boston Red Sox	+1,600

Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of 7-24.

Favorites to be Luis Robert's next team

Chicago White Sox (+175)

The argument in favor of keeping Luis Robert is he is under team control through the 2027 season thanks to a pair of $20-million team options after next year. There is theoretically no real rush to deal a 26-year-old All-Star with significant pop and some speed on the basepaths. After all, Robert hit 38 home runs and stole 20 bases while slashing .264/.315/.542 in a career-high 145 games last year. He is a legitimate piece that a team could build around for the future. This is likely why the White Sox are drawing the shortest odds to keep him as they aren't desperate to deal a player of his caliber and contract.

However, they should be desperate. The White Sox are so incredibly bad that it would take a borderline miracle for them to be contenders by Robert's final season — which is why they're also entertaining the idea of trading Garrett Crochet. 

Trading Robert now, even if his numbers are worse than you'd like with 11 home runs and a .227/.300/.464 slash line, would help restock the prospect cupboard. He's not a rental. Any team acquiring the outfielder is adding an impact bat for the next three-plus seasons at a fairly reasonable contract if he stays healthy and can play more like the 2023 version. And so the return would be better than what a team would get in exchange for an expiring contract. Landing Robert takes care of the present and the next few years.

I don't see a reality where Robert is with the White Sox on July 31 if Chicago is serious about actually rebuilding correctly. And since Eloy Jimenez keeps getting hurt, Robert — and Crochet — should go ASAP.

Philadelphia Phillies (+200)

The Philadelphia Phillies' outfield alignment is currently Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh, and Johan Rojas with Kyle Schwarber available as well, though he's more naturally a fit at DH. Cristian Pache is a fine defensive replacement but doesn't pack much punch with the lumber.

While Robert hasn't been a defensive dynamo this season, he's historically been better than the likes of Castellanos. The Phillies have been served well by their brand of "defense optional" baseball, but Robert would provide more depth while also serving as another impact bat in an already imposing lineup.

Put a guy like Robert on a good team with legitimate lineup protection and his numbers could jump. I'm curious about what prospects would be up for grabs, as Andrew Painter (recovery from Tommy John) and Mick Abel (struggles in Triple-A) have seen their value dip. 

Still, it's the best fit on paper — especially since the Atlanta Braves appear keen to take less expensive approaches to fill the gap left by injuries to Ronald Acuna Jr. and Michael Harris II — and it would potentially give the Phillies the upper hand in the NL.

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Los Angeles Dodgers (+450)

Outfield offense has been hard to come by for the Los Angeles Dodgers but it might not be the area most in need of addressing. Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor have filled in with Mookie Betts and Max Muncy on the shelf while the rotation has been in shambles and the bullpen has seen its own levels of chaos. They're the Dodgers, though, so they can aim to do a lot of things at once and they've been linked to the White Sox with regards to Robert and Crochet. 

Los Angeles has long held the reputation of having a fantastic MLB roster with a consistent farm system that keeps churning out top-level talent. The Dodgers have had to dip into that minor-league pool for pitching help and it raises the question about whether or not they have the volume of young talent to offer in blockbuster trades. For pitching, they will have trouble beating the Baltimore Orioles, for example.

It's still a good fit and would likely move Jason Heyward to fourth outfielder status, which is the best role for the veteran at this stage of his career. With Teoscar Hernandez only under contract through this season, Robert's contract also helps their depth beyond 2024. 

Seattle Mariners (+750)

The Seattle Mariners need offense badly. This was true in late June when we first looked at Robert's next team odds and it's extra true now that they've relinquished the AL West lead and Julio Rodriguez has now landed on the IL. 

They have pitching talent to offer but many of their best arms have already reached the majors and their service-time clocks have started ticking. But with JRod out, the Mariners are relying on Victor Robles (signed in June after being released by the Nationals), Luke Raley, Cade Marlow, and Mitch Haniger. For a team with playoff aspirations, that's simply not good enough.

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