Luis Robert, White Sox agree on six-year contract

Luis Robert

The White Sox on Thursday agreed to terms with top prospect Luis Robert on a six-year, $50 million contract. The deal includes two club options that could extend Robert's tenure with the team through 2027 season.

Robert, 22, is the No. 3 prospect in baseball. He played at three levels during the 2019 season -- Class-A Winston-Salem, Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte.

He batted .328/.376/.624 with 31 doubles, 11 triples, 32 home runs, 92 RBIs, 108 runs scored, 36 stolen bases and a 1.001 OPS over 122 games.

He became the first minor-league player since at least 1988 to hit .325 with 30 doubles, 10 triples, 30 homers, 90 RBIs, 100 runs scored, 300 total bases and 35 steals in a single season.

What does this mean? It means that Robert will be in center field for the Sox on Opening Day. Frankly, he should have been in center field for the Sox last season, if merit were the only consideration.

Alas, service time is a thing, and Robert was being kept in the minor leagues in order to delay his free agency years down the line. However, with this contract, he's under team control for the next eight years, so that is no longer a concern. Look for Robert to be wearing his No. 88 at Guaranteed Rate Field on March 26.

Here's how the contract breaks down by year:

2020: $1.5 million
2021: $3.5 million
2022: $6 million
2023: $9.5 million
2024: $12.5 million
2025: $15 million
2026: $20 million club option ($2 million buyout)
2027: $20 million club option ($2 million buyout)

In order to make room for Robert on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Tayron Guerrero was designated for assignment.