For the White Sox, the 2025-2026 offseason was dominated by the decision surrounding Luis Robert Jr. The former All-Star battled injuries and underperformance throughout his White Sox tenure, and the team was faced with a $20 million dollar decision on his player option. Chicago elected to pick up Robert’s option, but later traded him to the Mets in exchange for utilityman Luisangel Acuna. After another season of poor health and inconsistent performance split between the Mets and Orioles, Baltimore has elected not to pick up Robert’s option, and he’ll become a free agent for the first time in his career. He’s certain to have some suitors who will look to reignite his 2023 performance. Here are three teams who could be the next to be fooled by Robert’s one good season.
Luis Robert Jr.'s first Camden Yards homer! pic.twitter.com/fU9ba93IDT
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 4, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies
It’s going to be an offseason of transition for the Phillies, who are set to lose infielder Alec Bohm in free agency and are dealing with an aging core that hasn’t been able to get over the hump and win it all. With Bohm’s departure, the Phillies become even more lefty-heavy than they already are, with Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Bryson Stott, and Brandon Marsh all left-handed contributors. Outside of the aforementioned Marsh and former top prospect Justin Crawford, the Phillies are thin in the outfield and could use some extra power from the right side. Robert may be one of the higher upside options available and likely won’t be too expensive given his recent track record. Philadelphia had been tied to Robert in previous deadline rumors, so perhaps they could revisit him as a free agent. As the Phillies look to maintain a competitive roster and add some power, Robert could be a natural fit.
Tampa Bay Rays
Speaking of teams who have shown interest in Robert before, the Rays reportedly submitted a waiver claim for Robert when he went to Baltimore at the end of August. They’ve also recently declined the option on OF Cedric Mullins, opening a spot in the outfield. Tampa is not known for spending big money and instead tries to find good value on the open market. A season similar to 2023 for Robert would provide tremendous value for whichever team signs him, and if there’s any team that may feel like they can get the best out of him, it’s the Rays. If Tampa were to sign Robert, it would likely be for a one-year prove-it deal on which Robert would hope to stay healthy and earn himself a multi-year contract next offseason. Signing with Tampa could also make sense for Robert, who would almost certainly prefer a situation where he can compete rather than embarking on another rebuild.
Houston Astros
Pairing Robert with likely MVP Yordan Alvarez in Houston would give Houston an enormous amount of power potential in the middle of their lineup. If you include Christian Walker, Isaac Paredes, Jose Altuve, and others in the group, it could be one of the best lineups in all of baseball. Outside of Cam Smith, the Houston outfield has a lot of questions, and it remains to be seen what new GM Randy Flores’ plan for the group is, but Robert could make some sense as an anchor in center field. Houston’s left-field short porch is extra enticing for right-handed power hitters, and it could be the ideal ballpark for Robert to attempt his bounce-back. While not a surefire contender like the Rays, the Astros likely aren’t going to fully tear down, and the AL West could be winnable again in 2027.
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