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White Sox: Could Prized Cuban Star Land on South Side?

By Matt Manetti

Dec 6, 2016; National Harbor, MD, USA; Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn speaks with the media after the White Sox traded pitcher Chris Sale (not pictured) to the Boston Red Sox on day two of the 2016 Baseball Winter Meetings at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; National Harbor, MD, USA; Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn speaks with the media after the White Sox traded pitcher Chris Sale (not pictured) to the Boston Red Sox on day two of the 2016 Baseball Winter Meetings at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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One scout described Luis Robert as the best player on the planet. And Ben Badler writes the White Sox are a potential landing spot.

The Chicago White Sox have an exciting future ahead of them. And that future could get a whole lot brighter. According to Ben Badler, the White Sox are a potential landing spot for Cuban star Luis Robert. In fact, Badler writes they come up the most in discussions of where the 19-year-old will land.

Obviously the organization has had good luck with Cuban players. Alexei Ramirez started his career on the south side in 2008 and they also signed Jose Abreu in 2013. The organization is very familiar with Cuban players and there’s no reason they shouldn’t make a stab at Robert. Signing him would almost be the icing on the cake.

Robert is a talented outfielder who one scout described as “the best player on the planet.” That’s quite the endorsement for someone who hasn’t played a game in the MLB yet. However, he does have a lot of international experience. In his most recent season in Cuba, the righty hit .401 in 232 plate appearances. That included 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases. If he can adjust to major-league pitching, he has all the potential to be an All-Star.

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All of this sounds good but the White Sox need to be willing to spend. It may require their entire bonus pool to sign him. But that will depend on when he is cleared to sign by the commissioner’s office. Either way, Rick Hahn would have commit the majority of their bonus pool in order to strike a deal. But if you’re the White Sox, that shouldn’t be an issue.

The White Sox desperately need an outfielder. Getting someone like Robert, who could be a stud for years, would really help in the rebuild. Think of the lineup Rick Renteria would have with this addition. This seems like too good of an opportunity to pass up.

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A move like this would also reinvigorate the fan base. This is not a team that is usually in the hunt for big-time free agents. But here they are in prime position to potentially land a future cornerstone for the organization.

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