BREAKING NEWS: Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds officially fall short of completing massive blockbuster trade

The Cincinnati Reds have made it clear that they are focused on strengthening their roster, having recently signed outfielder Austin Hays and acquired reliever Tyler Rogers via trade. However, they came up short in securing a major deal that would have provided a significant upgrade.

The Reds and White Sox could not agree on a Luis Robert Jr. trade

According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Chicago White Sox engaged in trade discussions with the Cincinnati Reds regarding star outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

However, the two teams were unable to reach an agreement on the players involved or the financial aspects of the deal. Robert is set to earn $15 million in 2025, with a $2 million buyout option, making him a significant financial investment for any team.

The Reds appeared hesitant to take on the contract of a player with considerable risk. Robert was limited to just 100 games last season and struggled on a historically poor White Sox team, posting a .224 batting average with 14 home runs and a career-worst 33.2% strikeout rate.

His .657 OPS marked a steep decline from the .857 OPS he recorded the previous year. In 2023, he had a breakout season, hitting a career-high 38 home runs with 80 RBIs, positioning himself as one of baseball’s rising stars.

The Reds went in a different direction after failing to acquire Robert

The 27-year-old outfielder is considered one of the sport’s more promising talents due to his impressive power and speed on the bases. However, he is a high-risk hitter, striking out at one of the league’s highest rates, and injuries have further stalled his progress. Robert has been a frequent name in trade discussions since last season, but no deal has materialized.

Instead, the Reds opted for a more affordable option, signing Hays to a one-year, $5 million contract. While Cincinnati is still building toward contention, they are making strides in the right direction, with rising stars Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer leading the way.

With their offseason moves, the Reds have an outside shot at securing a Wild Card spot or even competing for the NL Central crown, given the division’s overall weakness.