CHICAGO -- David Robertson has established a nice home for his family in a Chicago neighborhood 20 minutes away from U.S. Cellular Field.
If the White Sox closer had a preference, they would stay in that home the rest of the 2016 season and for the remainder of his four-year, $46 million deal agreed upon with the team prior to the 2015 season. But as the veteran hurler well knows, he doesn't have a say.
"I don't really have a choice in it," Robertson said. "I obviously like it here. I love playing for the White Sox. But when it comes down to it, the front office will make the decision they want to make.
"They're going to choose the direction for the team. If I do get traded, wherever I go, I'm going to have to go play baseball again."
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn told the media last Thursday that short-term additions had been ruled out as this Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches, and with the White Sox "mired in mediocrity," they were open to anything.
Late-inning bullpen help such as Robertson and Zach Duke immediately churned through the rumor mill as the White Sox hinted at a potential rebuild. The same went for third baseman Todd Frazier and even right fielder Adam Eaton. On Wednesday, MLB.com's Jon Morosi tweeted that James Shields was available according to sources. It was interest that could be buoyed by his 1.71 ERA over the past six starts.
Of course Chris Sale and José Quintana, the White Sox top two starters under team control through 2019 and 2020, respectively, are the pieces holding the potential to turn around a team. Ultimately, though, the White Sox might execute one or even no moves, regardless of the team's recent 4-0 run to bring it back to .500.
Players such as Frazier and Robertson can only worry about the daily task at hand.
"You can't overthink it. If you overthink and start wondering about what's going to happen, your game suffers," Robertson said. "It's something I try not to worry about."
"It's a crazy business. They might tell you one thing and then something happens a week or a day later," Frazier said. "You never know. You have to have a good agent and trust him. The bottom line is I love all these guys. I would like to see us all stay for sure."

Frazier and Robertson believe the current team isn't too far off from consistent elite status if it remains together with a few tweaks here and there.
"Rick Hahn has done a really good job with trades and acquisitions. I think he's done a heck of a job," Frazier said. "I'm just happy about the roll we are getting on in here.
"You can see it in everybody's face. It's a little more chipper I guess you can say and we are ready to go, ready to get on a big, big roll. I think it's going to be an exciting time for the White Sox."