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Phillies Urged To Trade For $75 Million All-Star, Ending Luis Robert Pursuit

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonathan Vankin | Last updated Jul 1, 2025 5:31 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies on Monday became just the fourth MLB team of 2025 to reach the 50-win mark, shutting out the San Diego Padres 3-0 behind a sparkling eight-inning effort from Cy Young candidate Zack Wheeler. But the Phillies still have a long way to go if they want to get back to the heights they reached three years ago.

That's when to the Phillies reached the World Series for the first time since 2009 — and only the eighth for the franchise, which has won just two championships, since baseball's modern era began in 1901. To get back for a ninth shot at a title, the Phillies need to upgrade in two places: the outfield and the bullpen.

According to media reports, the Phillies and their president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski have been eyeing a deal for Chicago White Sox 2023 All-Star center fielder Luis Robert Jr., but the 27-year-old native of Cuba is having his least productive season as a big leaguer. Robert has so far compiled a mere .584 OPS, .185 batting average and just eight home runs, after belting 38 just two years ago.

A new trade proposal published Tuesday by Bleacher Report would address the Phillies' outfield need by sending one of Robert Jr.'s outfield teammates to Philadelphia — while also addressing the National League East leaders' other major need, bullpen arms.

In the proposed trade, 30-year-old, 10-year veteran Andrew Benintendi — the No. 7 overall draft pick in 2015, taken by the Boston Red Sox — heads to the Phillies, his fifth major league team. Righty reliever Steven Wilson goes with him.

The 30-year-old pitcher is in the midst of a career year, with a 1.73 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 26 innings.

As for Benintendi, he is in the third season of a five-year, $75 million contract with the White Sox. The lefty swinger has hit 10 home runs and posted a .739 OPS, which would be his best since 2022 when he divided his season between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees — and was selected for the American League All-Star team.

The White Sox, who have indicated that they would include cash in any trade as they try to dump salaries, would send some Philly's way to help with Benintendi's salary, according to the proposal by Bleacher Report writer Joel Reuter.

"Paying (Benintendi's) 2026 and 2027 salaries down to something in the $5-7 million range might help get a deal done," Reuter wrote. "As would packaging him with a useful bullpen arm like Steven Wilson."

On a one-year, $950,000 contract this season, Wilson remains under team control for two more seasons.

The trade would be primarily a salary dump for the White Sox, who in return would receive minor league right-hander Michael Mercado, who has a 5.70 ERA in 23 2/3 Triple-A innings this year. Mercado has appeared in three big league games this year, surrendering five earned runs in just three innings of work,

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

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