(670 The Score) After receiving the devastating news Monday that star center fielder Luis Robert will be out for months after a complete tear of his hip flexor, general manager Rick Hahn and the White Sox have begun the process of searching for help to fill his void.
As it pertains to utilizing the resources at hand, Hahn must now balance the club's desire to win a World Series in 2021 with the long-term championship window that's open for the organization. With a strong rotation and a talented bullpen, the White Sox are still in a solid position to compete in the American League and win the division. With Robert and fellow slugging outfielder Eloy Jimenez (torn pectoral) out for months, the trouble is finding enough offense to win at the highest level.
The trade market is one way for the White Sox to help fortify their outfield. May is usually too early for other clubs to considering making trades, but what's different about this season is that organizations are suffering economically with a reduced fan capacity in the stands. That means contracts could be dumped earlier in the season.
"You certainly don't want to do anything short-sighted to short-circuit that long term," Hahn said. "It's going to be a balancing act and again, first you have to figure what the options are before you consider whether the juice is worth the squeeze, so to speak."
One high-profile name that will likely be discussed is 34-year-old Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, who was an All-Star from 2017-'19. Blackmon then had a strong 2020 but is hitting only .198 with a .632 OPS this season. Blackmon is making $21.5 million here in 2021 and then has a $21-million player option for 2022 and a $10-million player option in 2023.
The Rockies are amid a rebuild and may want to get off Blackmon's money, but they also just got a new interim general manager in Bill Schmidt, and their trade of star third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals in the offseason turned into a debacle as they didn't get enough in return. So they may need some time before deciding how to proceed with Blackmon.
Marlins center fielder Starling Marte could be another option on the trade market, though he's currently out with a rib injury. Marte is making $12.5 million in the final season of his contract and should be available if general manager Kim Ng decides this summer to focus on the future beyond 2021. The Marlins are last in the NL East but are just 2.5 games behind the division-leading Nationals.
Another player sure to land in trade rumors is Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, who's also a solid outfielder. Bryant is off to a scorching hot start and would certainly fortify the White Sox's lineup, though another crosstown trade might feel like a longshot.
"We certainly went into the season with the intent to be aggressive," Hahn said. "We haven't moved off of that in terms of our focus and expectations. That said, we are in the midst – or the opening, I would say – of what we hope will be the opening of an extended window."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
