Padres linked to Chicago White Sox All-Star at the trade deadline

The San Diego Padres are in need of outfield help at the trade deadline. Firmly in the playoff hunt in the National League, a splash acquisition could help put the team in the thick of contention. 

One name that has come up recently is Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that the Padres are among the teams showing interest in the 2023 All-Star.

“A lot of Robert's career has been filled with injury or underwhelming performance, but he's always been viewed as a superstar talent,” Olney said. “Luisangel Acuna and Mark Vientos are among the names that have come up in conversations with the Mets, and the Phillies have a farm system loaded with pitching. The Padres are also interested in Robert.”

Robert possesses all the tools necessary to be a superstar in Major League Baseball with his rare combination of power, speed, and defense. However, he has struggled to put it all together for a full season aside from 2023. As Olney mentioned, injuries and poor performance have hindered Robert. In his career, he has only played 100 or more games in a season just twice in six seasons, however he is on pace to do so for a third time this season. 

This season, Robert is hitting .205 with 11 home runs and a .640 OPS. Stuck on the lowly 39-68 White Sox, the hope is that a change of scenery into a contending team could give him the boost he, and the Padres need.