White Sox Pick Up Luis Robert Jr.’s 2026 Option
The Chicago White Sox announced Tuesday that they have exercised center fielder Luis Robert Jr.’s $20 million club option for the 2026 season, ensuring the All-Star outfielder remains under contract for at least one more year.
At the same time, left-hander Martín Pérez declined his $10 million mutual option for 2026 and will instead receive a $1.5 million buyout, officially entering free agency.
Robert, 28, appeared in 110 games in 2025, batting .223 with 14 home runs, 53 RBIs, and a career-best 33 stolen bases. Known for his rare mix of power and speed, Robert’s only full season came in 2023, when he delivered an All-Star performance, hitting 38 home runs, 36 doubles, and 20 steals while driving in 80 runs and scoring 90.
Despite recent trade speculation surrounding Robert, the White Sox are expected to weigh their options cautiously. The team endured another difficult season, finishing with 60 wins and 103 losses for the third consecutive year, trailing AL Central champion Cleveland by 28 games. Chicago also holds a $20 million team option for 2027 on Robert’s contract, keeping the talented Cuban-born outfielder under team control for two more seasons.
Over his career, Robert has compiled 102 home runs, 102 stolen bases, and a .259 batting average across 577 games, showcasing his dynamic two-way potential when healthy.
Pérez, 34, completed his first and only season with Chicago in 2025, going 1–6 with a 3.54 ERA, 22 walks, and 44 strikeouts over 56 innings (11 games, 10 starts). He missed four months due to left elbow inflammation after signing a one-year, $5 million contract that included the mutual option.
The Venezuelan-born southpaw has posted a career record of 91–93 with a 4.41 ERA, along with 1,153 strikeouts and 590 walks in 1,631 2/3 innings over 325 games (279 starts). An All-Star in 2022 with the Texas Rangers, Pérez has also pitched for the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, and now the White Sox.
As the offseason unfolds, Chicago’s front office faces key decisions about how to rebuild a struggling roster while retaining its few core talents — with Robert at the center of those plans.
