White Sox Are Desperate To Trade 2 Players; Willing to Go To Extreme Lengths

How desperate are the Chicago White Sox to find a willing taker for their pair of trade candidates in the outfield, Luis Robert Jr. and Andrew Benintendi? According to insider Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic, they're willing to give the receiving teams cold, hard, cash, in addition to the players.

While the Boston Red Sox got the San Francisco Giants to take on the full remaining $255 million on Rafael Devers' contract, the Pale Hose didn't have that luxury:

The Chicago White Sox recognize they are in no position to impose the same conditions on teams that express interest in their two most expensive players, outfielders Andrew Benintendi and Luis Robert Jr. In both cases, according to sources briefed on the team’s plans, the White Sox are open to including cash in trades.

Robert at least has some trade value, as the potential of his big power and speed combo could lure teams in despite his horrid season so far. The same can't be said about Benintendi, notes Rosenthal, as he points to the more than $45 million remaining on his deal through the 2027 season.

Benintendi, 31, might be all but impossible to move.

The former Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox outfielder is hitting .246 with seven home runs and a .753 OPS, but almost exclusively as a platoon player, batting only against right-handers. Benintendi has only a .384 slugging percentage in his three seasons on the South Side, after they signed him to an ill-advised five-year, $75 million free agent deal.

As for Robert, he's only hitting .192 with six homers and a .581 OPS, absolutely dreadful at the plate. But he does have 20 stolen bases and still plays a solid center field. But, with an injury-riddled career in addition to this lack of offense these days, Rosenthal says that Robert "holds only so much appeal. The White Sox would pay down his salary to enhance their return".

He is still owed the balance of his $15 million deal for the rest of this season, but the $20 million owed in each of 2026 and 2027 are club options.

"An acquiring team might want to include contingencies under which the White Sox pay part of Robert’s salaries if they exercise his option years," adds the insider.

The White Sox are once again bringing up the rear in the American League with a 23-52 record. At least that's ahead of their record-breaking 121-loss pace of last season. They will obviously be sellers at next month's trade deadline.