In Major League Baseball, several moments make fans pause. However, this time, it was not the numbers that made people stop to look; it was honesty from a Chicago White Sox player. A veteran standing in front of several reporters didn’t sugarcoat anything. He only said what others were whispering about him. “Right now, as my season is going, I don’t think anyone is going to take a chance on me.”

Those words didn’t come from a journeyman. They came from Luis Robert Jr., the centerpiece of the Chicago White Sox’s last rebuild. And he is one of the few remaining stars after Dylan Cease and Garrett Crochet exited. Just a year or two ago, he was the guy with sky-high potential and a $50 million deal. Now he is the one trying to find his swing and maybe his confidence. But this self-doubt is understandable.

Robert’s 2025, after all, hasn’t inspired trade buzz. Entering Tuesday’s game, he was hitting just .186 and had an OPS under .600. He, for sure, swiped 17 bases, but his at-bats were not exactly great. The Chicago White Sox had hoped he would be red-hot, but they still are waiting for that spark. However, Robert’s words didn’t go unnoticed.

Former MLB All-Star Todd Frazier chimed in, talking about the entire fiasco. And he didn’t mince his words when talking about Luis Robert Jr’s self-doubt confession. “I feel like he’s throwing in the towel here. I’m not a big fan of that quote. How about saying, ‘I know I’m struggling, but I’m one at-bat away from getting my mind right’?”

Frazier’s advice didn’t stop there. “He’s a confident guy. I believe he’s going to get back on track… You’re in the big leagues for a reason. That’s part of it—you’re going to struggle. The psyche up here, you have to be mentally strong.”

Robert, for his part, though, has always been an open book. He never shies away from speaking his mind. Even during the spring training, he openly said he didn’t expect to be on the Chicago White Sox team by opening day.

But the question is, while honesty is greatly admired, it might be hurting Robert’s chances of getting traded. Because lack of confidence is a huge thing. The talent is there, the speed is there, but unless the mindset shifts, the trade market may remain quiet. And so maybe Robert needs to flip the mindset before flipping his season.

The Chicago White Sox’s trade deadline hopes are crumbling

The Chicago White Sox won’t just have trouble with Luis Robert’s trade value cratering. Because once you look around the roster, you’ll find it hard to see any veteran playing well enough to start a bidding war for the Sox. This season, though, was not about competing in the off-season for them.

After they lost over 100 games in 2024, they took a conservative route, loading up on one-year deals. The Chicago White Sox were hoping a few bounce-back stories would turn the trade deadline to gold, but alas, that seems too far-fetched now.

Surprisingly, though, the best move came from a simple cash deal they did with the Chicago Cubs. Matt Thaiss is the veteran catcher they got, and he has been the most valuable addition for the White Sox. Sure, he is barely just hitting above Mendoza’s line, but overall, his on-base percentage is good. If anyone in the team has some trade value, it’s just him.

As for the rest, they are struggling.

Nick Maton didn’t last. Bobby Dalbec and Travis Jankowski have fizzled. Josh Rojas plays several positions but hardly touches the ball. Even the bullpen is in the same boat, with Cam Booser unable to lock things down. Mike Clevinger is back in Triple-A, and Martin Perez’s elbow gave out. And well, Luis Robert Jr., of course, is batting under .200 and nowhere near the 38-homer force from 2023.

So now, if the Chicago White Sox were hoping to flip veterans for other prospects in July, they need a new plan. Only Matt Thaiss might be their trade chip—no one else…