If you put a gun to my head and said come up with a trade for Robert and Cease.... Tucker & Leon for Robert McCullers, Garcia, & Urquidy, for Cease
Makes absolutely no sense. Why would Chicago trade Robert for a guy with fewer years of control? The Cease part is less insane but still hard to see why either team would do it.
I will defend, and even sweeten. We are going to lose Tucker anyway do this and at least we get something for him. We are playing without McCullers, Garcia, & Urquidy as it is, all we are really giving up this season is Urq and he replacable. If this deal does not get it done toss in Meyers or Kessinger
They also get the first shot at resigning Tucker. Tucker is a proven star, Robert has potential but is as yet unproven over the long haul. The Robert deal is only palatable for them in conjunction with the deal for cease. They get a lot more than they are giving up on Cease but this deal is all about the timing we need pitching now, they need it later.
I'm located in Indiana so I've spoke to a ton of white Sox fan and most would be okay with Pena/Gilbert/Lee for roberts straight up. I honestly think it's a fair trade and we are selling Penas stock at the top. Pull the trigger and be a legend brown Tuve Bergman Yordan Tucker Roberts Abreu Dubon Chaz Diaz
Uh... Roberts is pretty comparable over the course of their careers. The only bad thing you can really say about him is a unfortunate injury history. His rookie season produced a GG and second in AL ROY. Right now, he's a top 10 hitter in baseball with a glove... so to call Tucker a proven star and Robert an "unproven" star is a bit of a reach.
With Chas playing like a AS, locked in till 2026, I definitely see the possibility of trading Gilbert. I just don't know what his value is for other teams. I'd think the Cubs want him as a main piece for Stroman and Belly. Pena is another conundrum because the hate he gets at SS is pretty unwarranted. He's also under contract till 2027 and provides a top 5 glove at the position... oh and he won the 2022 ALCS and 2022 WS MVP awards. His value should be through the roof tbh but the White Sox already have Tim Anderson - I don't think that works. Korey Lee? I don't think he has that much value to other teams. For me, I start with an offer of Luis Garcia, Meyers, Gilbert, Lee for Luis Robert and Dylan Cease. Go from there and maybe add more prospects. White Sox can start the tank with Garcia sitting out a year then have two years control remaining. Meyers is solid and everyone knows what he brings to the table. Gilbert is a top 100 prospect and Lee is whatever.
Almost identical type of player throwing bias aside... Tucker contract ends in 2025 (300+ million contract) and Roberts ends in 2027 (TO at 20 million per year for 26' and 27') I don't know what else there is to explain.
They would hang up the phone. Garcia value is low right now so makes no sense to trade him at the moment. Anderson is on the wrong side of 30 and is having a down year. They would use Pena on day 1. The package you listed won't even get us roberts.
I rather have him build length as an opener or bulk guy in the bigs to maximize his worth rather than having that atrocity on the end of the bullpen
We don't know what his value is. For a team tanking, having Garcia sit out that year actually helps the tank if that's the route they go. White Sox could love Garcia, we don't know that info - also I explained that the offer started at that and would probably have to add more.
I was bored this morning so I went thru the exercise of seeing how trading Pena/Meyers/Garcia/Gilbert/Arrighetti for Robert/Cease might impact the future. Here's the expected fwar difference by year thru 2027: 2024: Out: 7.5 fwar In: 8 fwar 2025: Out: 8 fwar In: 8 fwar 2026: Out: 8.5 fwar In: 5 fwar 2027: Out: 7 fwar In: 5 fwar 2028 and beyond would be all net negative but by that time the farm system will have almost completely turned over so it's hard to judge. Essentially this trade would make Houston a LOT better this season, marginally better next season and in 2025, and a little worse in 2026 and 2027. Looking at it from the White Sox perspective, I am not sure that 2-3 win/yr expected improvement in 2026-2029 is worth the risk of trading away an MVP and CY candidate. But this made me even more sure I would like this trade for Houston, although I still consider it very close to fair.
Nice. I personally would hate losing Pena but if he's a key piece to landing Robert and Cease... I think it's worth contemplating and maybe the Astros pull the trigger. Do the White Sox though? Pena was crucial to us winning that WS and that won't be forgotten. I imagine the FO would look a bit cold-blooded doing this and it might upset some of the fanbase. Question remains - Is it worth not having a reliable SS in the postseason? Astros might look back and regret the move... who knows though.
Lunacy to trade 7 seasons of Gilbert (assuming they mess with his clock) for 1/2 a year of Bellinger and stroman. NOPE
