⚡ LATEST UPDATE: Breaking Down the Most Aggressive Trade Package the Phillies Should Put on the Table for Luis Robert Jr. ⚡.DD
How much is he really worth?
An issue that the Philadelphia Phillies have been circling the drain on addressing is their outfield.
They officially signed outfielder Adolis García on Tuesday, replacing Nick Castellanos.
They also have top prospect Justin Crawford penciled in to play center field in 2026.
The Phillies have been exploring the trade market to upgrade their major league roster, so perhaps revisiting a deal for Luis Robert Jr. is warranted.
Even though Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski came out and said that the outfield is “pretty much set,” that doesn’t mean another move can’t take place.
It would be malpractice not to entertain other upgrades via trade.
Phillies should be mindful of how expensive the deal could get to acquire Luis Robert Jr.
After the sell-off and constant purgatory that the Chicago White Sox find themselves in in the 2020s, Robert Jr. has stayed put, unable to get moved.
It’s not that the White Sox are unwilling to move him, but they’re steadfast that his potential return in a trade should be sizable.
This dance has gone on for a few seasons now, so maybe the asking price would be slightly lower now, in perfect time for the Phillies to sport a new center fielder.
The only real concern for Phillies fans is what prospect capital they’ll have to part ways with to acquire the Cuban outfielder.
The Phillies realistically could offer their top outfield prospect and No. 3 MLB Pipeline prospect Justin Crawford along with their No. 4 prospect right-hander Gage Wood.
The Phillies would get a power-hitting righty with a decent glove and send a reasonable haul to Chicago.
Crawford appears MLB ready, and Wood was the Phillies’ first-round pick in this year’s draft.
The Phillies should be careful but also know the kind of power Robert Jr. possesses from the center field position.
He’s hit 14 home runs in each of the previous two seasons, playing in 100 and 110 games, respectively.
What the Phillies would be hoping more for is his 2023 production, in which he hit 38 home runs and sported an .857 OPS.
Robert Jr. is 28 years old with two remaining years under contract, both with $20 million club options.
With the 2026 option already exercised, the Phillies would be on the hook for at least one season of his deal.
The Phillies would also be banking on a bounce-back from the outfielder, as he’s hit just .223 with a .660 OPS over the last two seasons.
They need to jump on an opportunity to drastically improve their outfield, which accrued just 3.2 fWAR as a group in 2025, ranking 21st in MLB.
The Phillies could even catch a break with the $20 million price tag coming into play.
Robert Jr.’s struggles have been real and other teams remain nervous about trading for a lost contract (subscription required).
The flip side would be that if Robert Jr. is at the peak of his powers and motivated on a winning team, it could be a massive difference maker for the Phillies in their quest for a title.
