The Phillies are more likely than the Dodgers to get another highly skilled player in Jr.
Star players on underperforming teams are being pursued by contenders hoping to make a run for the postseason in the second half of the season as the MLB trade deadline draws near and teams make decisions about buying or selling. Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox is one of the most sought-after commodities anticipated to reach the market, and the Philadelphia Phillies may be the ideal destination for the highly sought-after center fielder.
After the MLB trade deadline in July, Robert Jr.’s odds of donning a Phillies uniform are placed at +400 by BetOnline Sportsbook, which puts the Phillies as the favorites to negotiate a deal with the struggling White Sox. They defeat the Seattle Mariners (+600), the Los Angeles Dodgers (+500), and several other desperate, interested teams.
Naturally, in the run-up to July 30, Robert Jr. has been connected to a plethora of clubs, as the White Sox seem prepared to go into full fire sale mode and convert their star players into prospects in an attempt to acquire younger and less expensive players during a losing season. Chicago is 30 games out of first place in the AL Central and has the poorest record in MLB (23-61).
On the opposite end of the scale, the Phillies own an MLB-best 54-28 record and a comfortable eight-game lead over the Atlanta Braves, who are currently in second place in the NL East.
There aren’t many gaps in Philadelphia’s roster. But the outfield is one weak point. More precisely, the Phillies would gain a lot by upgrading in center field. Johan Rojas, a sophomore center fielder, had a strong rookie season but has struggled this year with a.573 OPS and an OPS+ of just 64. After spending time in the minors, he returned to the big league team, but so far, he hasn’t delivered the output that the position urgently needs.
Nick Castellanos has occasionally displayed life in an otherwise lackluster season, while Brandon Marsh has been playing nicely lately, platooning between left and center.
However, it’s certain that the Phillies must bolster their outfield if they reach the trade deadline as buyers, which is practically probable given their current roster. Ideally, this would mean starting the second half of the season with a fresh, regular center fielder
The Phillies would be even more formidable with Robert Jr. joining a lineup that already contains Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and J.T. Realmuto. And when paired with some of the greatest pitchers in the game, the team has a real chance to contend for a postseason run.
Both Harper and Schwarber were been placed on the 10-day injured list; however, neither injury is thought to be significant, so if everything goes according to plan, both players should be back in a few weeks.
“I believe there’s a decent possibility Schwarber and Harper will return before the All-Star break… However, as manager Rob Thomson stated to MLB.com, “We want to make sure they’re completely healed.”
