The Chicago White Sox picked up center fielder Luis Robert Jr.’s $20 million option for 2026 on Tuesday.
The team also announced that left-hander Martin Perez declined his $10 million mutual option for 2026 and will receive a $1.5 million buyout.
Robert, 28, was limited to 110 games in 2025 and hit .223 with 14 home runs, 53 RBIs and a career-high 33 stolen bases.
He has played more than 110 games in only one season — 145 during his lone All-Star campaign in 2023 — when he had 38 home runs, 36 doubles and 20 stolen bases, scored 90 runs and drove in 80.
The subject of trade rumors the past two years, the White Sox could still consider moving Robert in the right deal. Chicago won 60 games and finished 28 games behind AL Central champion Cleveland in 2025. It was their third consecutive season with at least 100 losses.
The White Sox also hold a $20 million team option on the Cuban-born Robert’s contract for 2027.
He has 102 home runs and 102 stolen bases with a .259 batting average in 577 career games.
Perez, 34, went 1-6 with a 3.54 ERA, 22 walks and 44 strikeouts in 56 innings over 11 games (10 starts) last season, his first with the White Sox after agreeing to terms on a one-year, $5-million contract in January, which included the mutual option for 2026. He was out four months of the season due to left elbow inflammation.
A native of Venezuela, Perez is a career 91-93 with a 4.41 ERA, 590 walks and 1,153 strikeouts in 1,631 2/3 innings over 325 regular-season games (279 starts).
An All-Star in 2022 with Texas, he has pitched for the Rangers (2012-18, 2022-23), Minnesota Twins (2019), Boston Red Sox (2020-21), Pittsburgh Pirates (2024), San Diego Padres (2024) and White Sox.
–Field Level Media
