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Phillies Trade Target Earns Embarrassing Award Amid Disappointing Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Jul 11, 2025 2:39 PM ET

Few, if any, Chicago White Sox fans had anything close to high expectations for this year’s team. Really, the goal should have been—and still should be—surpassing last year’s modern-day record 121 losses.

Good news: the White Sox enter Friday at 31-62 and are only 11 wins away from surpassing their 2024 total. However, they’ve done so despite former All-Star outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who remains the subject of trade rumors even amid an abysmal 2025 campaign.

Saying that Robert has struggled this year is like suggesting that Aaron Judge is a home run threat. Robert is batting .195 with eight homers, 32 RBIs, and an ugly .583 OPS for the last-place White Sox.

Things are getting worse for Robert, who The Athletic’s Jayson Stark selected as the American League’s Least Valuable Player on Friday. Not only did Stark cite Robert’s average and high strikeout rate, but he even referenced a conversation with a friend regarding the 2023 Silver Slugger.

“He has one job — to get himself traded,” Stark’s friend said. “And he’s failing!”

Whether or not Robert and his -0.2 bWAR find themselves on the move within the coming weeks remains to be seen. Fans and pundits alike have long suggested the Philadelphia Phillies as a potential fit for Robert, given their need for another outfield bat.

If the Phillies do pursue Robert, they’ll have an immediate problem beyond his lack of hitting. Robert has only played center field in the majors, and Brandon Marsh is hitting .326 with a homer, nine RBIs, five doubles, and an .817 OPS since June 1.

Marsh has at least played the corners in the past and spent a significant portion of 2021 in left field. Would the Phillies move him back there if it means placing Robert in center?

For their sake, the Phillies—or whoever employs Robert on August 1—better hope they’re not getting the LVP. Otherwise, Robert’s long summer could get even longer.

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This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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