The Philadelphia Phillies appear like a team that will be playing baseball in October this season.
The Phillies are fighting with the New York Mets for the National League East division title, sitting less than a game behind them, but still hold one of the three Wild Card playoff spots. With the trade deadline only a day away, now would be the time if Philadelphia wants to add a player for the final stretch of the season.
MLB.com's Jared Greenspan proposed that a Phillies trade with the Chicago White Sox for Luis Robert Jr. would "make too much sense", with the Phillies receiving the former All-Star in exchange for prospects Moisés Chace and Griffin Burkholder.
"The Phillies appear to be prioritizing bullpen help at the Deadline, hoping to shore up a unit that has teetered for much of the season," Greenspan wrote. "That’s a prudent decision, but it’s not the only area in which Philadelphia could use reinforcements. The Phillies entered play on Tuesday with just a .611 OPS from their center fielders, the seventh-worst figure in the Majors."
"Enter Robert, who is showing significant signs of life after a woeful start to the season. He’s slashing .318/.412/.545 in 13 games since returning from the injured list on July 8, looking more like the player who received down-ballot MVP votes in 2023."
Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp
Robert Jr. is still only 27 years old and has shown his potential when he hit 38 home runs only two seasons ago. The Phillies will likely prioritize bringing in a reliever at the trade deadline, but Robert Jr. has been resurgent since returning from injury and still is under contract with team options for another two seasons. His power could surely help Philadelphia's lineup as the team eyes the playoffs.
More MLB: Red Sox skipper hints at potential trade deadline changes