As the holidays approach and the winter meetings fade into the rearview, the MLB hot stove is just getting started-and in Chicago, the name at the center of it all is Luis Robert Jr.
The White Sox have been fielding calls on their star center fielder for nearly a year now. They held onto him at the trade deadline despite a flurry of interest and doubled down this offseason by picking up his $20 million club option for 2026.
But that hasn’t stopped the phones from ringing. Teams across the league are still checking in, and according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Mets, Phillies, Pirates, and Padres are among the clubs that have recently expressed interest.
With the Phillies reportedly shifting focus to Adolis García, they may be out of the running. But the Mets, Pirates, and Padres are still in the market for impact bats-and Robert fits the bill as a premium talent who’s under contract and in his prime.
If the White Sox do decide to move him, they’re expected to target either left-handed power or big-league-ready arms. Let’s take a closer look at a few names that could be part of a potential return package.
Ryan Clifford, OF/1B (Mets - No. 8 prospect)
If the White Sox are looking to add some left-handed thump, Clifford is a name to know. The 22-year-old spent the 2025 season climbing through the Mets’ system, splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A and putting up 29 home runs with an .826 OPS across 139 games.
Clifford’s offensive profile is built around patience and power. He drew 85 walks in 2025, which helped him post a .356 OBP despite hitting below .250.
He’s got a good eye, but there’s some swing-and-miss in his game, especially against offspeed stuff. That’s the red flag scouts point to-how will he adjust when he starts seeing major league-caliber breaking balls on a nightly basis?
Still, the raw power is real. Clifford hits the ball hard and often.
First base is a question mark for the Sox moving forward, and they’ve made it clear they want more balance in the lineup. Clifford could be a fit on both fronts-and with a big league debut possible as early as 2026, he’s a name to watch.
Thomas Harrington, RHP (Pirates - No. 10 prospect)
If the White Sox are looking to bolster their rotation depth, Harrington brings both upside and immediate availability. The 24-year-old made his MLB debut with the Pirates in 2025 but stumbled out of the gate, which has cooled some of the buzz around him. Still, there’s a lot to like.
A former 36th overall pick, Harrington features a four-pitch mix with all offerings grading out as at least average. He flew through the minors with strong seasons in 2023 and 2024 before hitting a wall this past year. But his foundation is solid, and he’s the kind of arm that could benefit from a change of scenery-and some work with White Sox pitching minds like Brian Bannister and Zach Bove.
The Sox have rotation spots up for grabs behind Shane Smith, Davis Martin, and Anthony Kay. Harrington could walk into spring training with a real shot to win a job. He’s not a frontline guy yet, but he’s got the tools to develop into a steady big league starter.
Miguel Mendez, RHP (Padres - No. 5 prospect)
San Diego’s once-loaded farm system has been thinned by years of aggressive trades, but Mendez remains one of the more intriguing arms still in the fold. He’s 23, has been in the organization since 2021, and reached Double-A in 2025.
Mendez brings heat-his fastball touches the upper 90s-and pairs it with a sharp breaking slider. The swing-and-miss stuff is there, but there’s a caveat: he’s still working to develop a reliable changeup. That’s where the White Sox could see a project worth investing in.
Since Brian Bannister came aboard, the Sox have emphasized changeup development across their pitching pipeline. Mendez fits that mold.
If he can round out his arsenal, he’s got the potential to stick in the rotation and maybe even pitch near the top of it. There’s reliever risk here, sure-but also high-end upside that’s tough to ignore.
What Comes Next?
Whether the White Sox ultimately pull the trigger on a Luis Robert Jr. trade remains to be seen. He’s a franchise cornerstone, under team control, and the kind of player you don’t move unless the return is significant.
But if a deal does happen, expect Chicago to target either a left-handed bat with power or a young arm who can step into the rotation mix immediately. Names like Clifford, Harrington, and Mendez check those boxes-and could be part of the conversation if talks get serious.
Until then, the rumors will keep swirling. On the South Side, Luis Robert Jr. remains the biggest chip on the board-and the hot stove is only just getting started.