ATLANTA, GA - JULY 16: Luis Robert Jr. #88 of the Chicago White Sox in the dugout during the eighth ... [+]
Amid the flurry of unhinged reports fired off from ESPN reporter Buster Olney’s X account this week — which included announcements that Sohei Ohtani faces a life sentence in prison and that the ongoing season would be canceled due to COVID-19 — was a relatively-credible blockbuster trade announcement.
“The Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox are finalizing a deal that will send star outfielder Luis Robert Jr. to Philadelphia, sources tell ESPN,” Olney’s account, which had been hacked, announced to its 1.3 million followers.
It’s hard to say why the hacker opted to share that piece of fake news amid so many outlandish posts, but it was reasonable enough to convince local Philadelphia sports radio station WIP, among many others. Victims of the ruse can be forgiven though. The hacker was not the first to suggest that Luis Jr., a slugging outfielder who signed a six-year, $50 million extension with the White Sox in 2020, is an ideal trade fit for the Phillies.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer listed Philadelphia as the “top landing spot” for the 26-year-old. New York Post MLB columnist Jon Heyman listed the Phillies as one of Robert’s primary suitors. Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden reported that the Phillies front office is interested in swinging a deal with the White Sox to land 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.”
Aside from whatever unnamed sources Bowden is relying on, the speculation can be largely driven by a handful of apparent factors. Firstly, the White Sox are likely open to trading any member of their roster, even those players who will remain under club control into the future. This was made clear when the team dealt its best pitcher, Dylan Cease, along with his 2025 arbitration eligibility, to the San Diego Padres in March, but Robert might have been an exception.
In his four big-league seasons before this one, he emerged as a potent young force at the plate, slashing .279/.327/.500 with 74 homers, 210 RBI and 46 swiped bags. In 2023, he earned an All-Star bid, Silver Slugger Award and MVP Award votes. The White Sox had already locked him in with an extension following his rookie season with $20 million club options for both 2026 and 2027, suggesting he was a part of the team’s long-term plans.
And that might still be the case, but the latest reports suggest the White Sox are at least willing to consider trading 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 side of the speculation lies the Phillies, who own the best record in the National League, making them a natural buyer at the July 30 trade deadline. The front office is guided by president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, who has earned a reputation for architecting significant trades. In February, principal owner John Middleton told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the front office was saving “powder” for potential acquisitions in July.
Could obtaining Robert be a worthy acquisition? If the Phillies have a weakness, it does not seem to be in offensive production. They rank in MLB’s top-five for runs, RBI, OBP, SLG and OPS. But if they are determined to shore up even the minor cracks before making a playoff run, more production from the outfield could be an area to focus.
The duo of Johan Rojas and Cristian Pache have seen 72 combined starts in the outfield with 54 hits and 55 strikeouts as of this writing. Robert would be a definitive offensive upgrade for years to come, assuming he can stay healthy. The reported asking price for Robert might give Dombrowski and company second thoughts as he’s seen a series of injuries over his young career, missing two months of this season after straining his hip flexor in April.
To give up a handful of top prospects for Robert, the Phillies would have to see him as a cornerstone of the outfield through at least 2027 and feel that this is the right time to make such an investment. The fit makes sense for many reasons, but it will take more than a hacked social media account to turn the speculation into reality.
