The Phillies may have dropped Sunday’s game to the Yankees, but they still came out on top in the series—and they’re now closing in on the division-leading Mets as the trade deadline draws near. With a strong season so far and several veteran players possibly hitting free agency this winter, the Phillies are in a great spot to make a big move or two.
One area they might target is the outfield, and a name that’s been floated is Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox. He could provide a solid boost over Johan Rojas, who’s struggled at the plate this year, hitting just .223 with one home run and a .571 OPS. As Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer pointed out, bringing in Robert would allow Brandon Marsh to slide over to left field, where Max Kepler is hitting only .205 with 11 homers and a .663 OPS.
Robert was once considered one of the top trade targets in baseball, but his stock has dipped due to recurring injuries and a step back in offensive production. Still, a fresh start in Philly might be just what he needs to get back on track—and he could be the spark this team is looking for.
Tanner Banks, the Phillies’ reliever, was asked if a trade to Philadelphia would aid Robert’s recovery as the team prepares to play the White Sox in a series. And Banks, who was Robert’s teammate on the White Sox two years prior, responded in a straightforward two-word manner.
According to Lauber, Banks said, “For sure.” “In baseball in general, sometimes that’s what it takes…. Robert enjoys playing games. Some guys make you wonder if they’re pulling the chute or if they’re injured. From personal experience, I can say that even though he is in pain, he wants to play every day, and the coaching staff would say, “No, we’re going to slow you down.”
If the Phillies believe Robert can bring the kind of power boost they need in the outfield, he might be suiting up in red soon—reuniting with Banks and potentially helping the team make a strong push for the playoffs.