Shocking report shows window is wide open for Phillies blockbuster trade.

Only a few days ago, the Philadelphia Phillies made a significant addition to their bullpen when they acquired Carlos Estevez, the former closer for the Los Angeles Angels. Dombrowski then implied that the Phillies were probably done making significant transactions before the deadline. After that, Philadelphia made a trade to acquire Austin Hays, an outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles, which should provide them even more options in the outfield. This time of year, trades between two World Series contenders are uncommon, but Baltimore and Philadelphia were able to support one another, with the Phillies sending Seranthony Dominguez back to Baltimore in exchange.

However, neither Estevez nor Hays are the caliber of player Phillies fans expected Dombrowski to trade for prior to the deadline. Rather, the likes of Garrett Crochet or Luis Robert Jr. fit the bill, with the latter filling a major void in the outfield if acquired.

Can Luis Robert Jr. still be acquired by the Phillies through trade?
Robert Jr. is a former Silver Slugger and AL All-Star, albeit he has struggled to remain healthy. It appears improbable that Robert Jr. would be traded by the deadline this season due to a tardy start in 2024. Since Robert Jr. is under contract through 2027 (with two club options), an offseason deal is far more likely and more agreeable for the White Sox. Though it may have a benefit for a team like the Phillies, Bob Nightengale’s most recent report puts doubt on a Robert Jr. deal.

Robert Jr. has a.741 OPS for the season and is hitting just.221/.290/.451. The Phillies were supposedly one of those teams at one point, which is why there hasn’t been much interest in him. The only realistic chances the Phillies have of acquiring a player of Robert Jr.’s caliber are in the event that there is no competition, which is the situation here, and if his worth declines significantly. The White Sox have not yet complied as of yet.

The wisest course of action for Chicago is to hang onto Robert Jr. and hope that he improves in the second half of the season, which would increase his trade value. Dealing him now for less would be a black mark on the already-unsightly resume of Chris Getz. Dombrowski is waiting for him to make another error.