HUGE BOOST: Phillies on $50 Million Blockbuster Trade
Amid the barrage of bizarre posts from ESPN reporter Buster Olney’s hacked X account this week — which falsely claimed Shohei Ohtani was facing life imprisonment and the current season would be canceled due to COVID-19 — there was a surprisingly believable trade announcement.
“The Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox are finalizing a deal to send star outfielder Luis Robert Jr. to Philadelphia, sources tell ESPN,” read one of the posts from Olney’s hacked account, which has 1.3 million followers.
The credibility of this particular piece of fake news was enough to fool local Philadelphia sports radio station WIP and many others. However, it’s understandable why people were duped. The idea that Luis Robert Jr., a powerful outfielder who signed a six-year, $50 million extension with the White Sox in 2020, would be a good fit for the Phillies is not new.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer has named Philadelphia as the “top landing spot” for the 26-year-old. New York Post MLB columnist Jon Heyman also listed the Phillies as one of Robert’s main suitors. Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden reported that the Phillies front office is interested in a deal with the White Sox to acquire the slugger.
“The Phillies have been the National League’s best team but aren’t resting on their laurels. They’re looking to improve their overall outfield and have interest in Luis Robert Jr. and Tommy Pham,” Bowden wrote. “The Phillies and White Sox do match up well on a blockbuster-type deal. Robert is under team control through 2027 on a club-friendly deal.”
Bowden’s speculation is supported by several factors. First, the White Sox seem willing to trade any player on their roster, even those under club control for the future. This was evident when they traded their best pitcher, Dylan Cease, to the San Diego Padres in March despite his arbitration eligibility through 2025. However, Robert might have been an exception.
In his four big-league seasons before this one, Robert has shown his potential, slashing .279/.327/.500 with 74 homers, 210 RBIs, and 46 stolen bases. In 2023, he earned an All-Star bid, a Silver Slugger Award, and MVP Award votes. The White Sox locked him in with an extension following his rookie season, including $20 million club options for both 2026 and 2027, indicating he was part of their long-term plans.
Nonetheless, recent reports suggest the White Sox are open to considering offers for him.
“The White Sox are listening to offers on anybody and everybody, including center fielder Luis Robert, who’s under contract through 2027 and owed about $61 million if his two club options are picked up,” Bob Nightengale reported for USA Today. “The White Sox would command a package greater than what the Padres gave up for Juan Soto at the 2022 deadline.”
On the other hand, the Phillies, who currently hold the best record in the National League, are natural buyers as the July 30 trade deadline approaches. The team’s front office, led by president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, is known for making significant trades. In February, principal owner John Middleton told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the front office was saving “powder” for potential acquisitions in July.
Would Robert be a worthy acquisition? The Phillies’ offense is already strong, ranking in MLB’s top five for runs, RBIs, OBP, SLG, and OPS. However, if they aim to address any remaining weaknesses before a playoff run, bolstering the outfield could be a focus.
Johan Rojas and Cristian Pache have combined for 72 outfield starts with 54 hits and 55 strikeouts so far. Robert would provide a significant offensive upgrade, assuming he stays healthy. But the reported asking price might give Dombrowski and his team pause, as Robert has had several injuries in his young career, missing two months this season due to a strained hip flexor in April.
To trade top prospects for Robert, the Phillies would need to view him as a cornerstone of their outfield through at least 2027 and believe now is the right time for such an investment. While the fit seems logical, it will take more than a hacked social media account to turn this speculation into reality.