(670 The Score) In his interview on the Mully & Haugh Show on Monday morning, MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network shared the latest rumblings that he has heard surrounding the White Sox’s trade chips as the deadline looms Tuesday late afternoon.
--- The trade market for center fielder Luis Robert Jr. isn’t as robust as some might have expected, and the reason is simple.
“There’s a divergence of opinion on Robert,” Heyman said.
As Heyman explained it, the White Sox view the 26-year-old Robert as a cornerstone star who would demand an extremely high price in a trade because he’s under contract control through 2027. That isn’t how rival teams view Robert, who’s hitting .210 with 12 homers, 24 RBIs and a .722 OPS.
“Other teams are looking at him, they’re thinking that he’s had a few injuries, that he’s been a little bit inconsistent,” Heyman said.
Complicating matters on the Robert trade market is that a pair of outfielder-needy teams in the Mariners and Phillies recently addressed their needs by acquiring Randy Arozarena and Austin Hays, respectively. The Braves also need an outfielder but are unlikely to make a high-profile addition like Robert, Heyman said.
“The Dodgers have their hands in every big player,” Heyman said. “Maybe it can work out with the Dodgers. But still, that’s not a ton of teams on Robert.”
--- There’s certainly a trade market for White Sox ace Garrett Crochet, but “the market doesn’t look as good,” Heyman said, after Crochet's representation revealed last week that he won’t pitch in October for a new team unless he’s given a contract extension. As he looks to protect his health after already logging a career-high innings workload, Crochet also doesn’t want to pitch out of the bullpen, a role that contending teams are interested in using him in.
--- Momentum has slowed in trade conversations for right-hander Erick Fedde lately, but Heyman expects that to pick up once there’s clarity on the future of elite starters who are on the market.
Fedde, 31, has a 3.11 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 21 starts in 2024. He’s under contract through 2025.
“I’m hearing comments secondhand that they’re not sure they’re trading him,” Heyman said of the White Sox and Fedde.
“I guess they’re not getting the offers they’re hoping to get. But you would think once these teams understand they’re not getting (Tarik) Skubal or Blake Snell or a superstar pitcher, that he would certainly be in demand. He’s a good, solid pitcher, but he’s a back-end pitcher.”
Heyman believes the Brewers are a logical fit for Fedde.
--- White Sox outfielder Tommy Pham is a near lock to be traded, Heyman said. The 36-year-old Pham is hitting .266 with five homers, 19 RBIs and a .710 OPS in 70 games this season.
--- Shortstop Paul DeJong’s trade market is quiet at this time. DeJong, 30, is hitting .228 with 18 homers, 40 RBIs and a .704 OPS in 101 games. He has also played some third base recently.
--- “If you’re the White Sox, I’m still looking at the Dodgers on both Robert and Crochet,” Heyman said.
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