MLB Rumors: Reds Urged To Make Blockbuster Trade With White Sox

December 31, 2025 ,
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona walks out to the mound during 2025 game.

The Luis Robert Jr. trade chatter around the Cincinnati Reds is getting loud again.

Insider Jim Bowden went on MLB Network Radio and basically begged Cincinnati to finish what it has reportedly been circling for two years, landing a true impact bat to support Elly De La Cruz and give the lineup real bite in 2026.

Reds trade talks for Luis Robert Jr. are real

Multiple reports say Cincinnati has resumed discussions with the Chicago White Sox, with the New York Mets also mentioned as a possible fit. The money part is what makes this feel more realistic than a lot of rumor mill noise: Robert is owed $20 million in 2026, and there is buzz Chicago could be willing to cover a chunk of it if the return is right. 

That matters for a Reds team that has added depth pieces, but still seems to be hunting for one move that changes the feel of their lineup.

Robert also brings the kind of upside Cincinnati does not have sitting in left field right now. Even with TJ Friedl holding down center, Robert’s defense plays anywhere, and the ceiling is still the 2023 version of him who looked like a franchise outfielder. 

The question is whether the Reds believe the second half bounce back is real, and whether the hamstring injury that ended his 2025 is a one off or part of a pattern.

Chase Petty could be the price for a Luis Robert Jr. trade

If the White Sox still value Robert like a star and not a salary dump, they are going to want a real piece back, and the reporting has pointed toward young, controllable pitching. 

That is why Chase Petty is popping up as a potential headliner. Petty’s 2025 command issues and rough MLB cameo took some shine off, but he is still only 22, still has legit stuff, and still profiles like a possible rotation piece if things click.

From Cincinnati’s side, this becomes a risk trade either way. You might be selling low on Petty if he rebounds, or you might be buying low on Robert if the bat returns and the health cooperates. The twist is that salary coverage and prospect cost likely move together. If the Reds want Chicago to eat more money, the return probably has to sting more. 

That makes Petty the type of name that could actually get a deal across the finish line, especially if Cincinnati decides it needs a true middle of the order threat now, not later.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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