Veteran White Sox Outfielder Linked to Phillies in Trade Idea

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Griffin Goodwyn | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 1:00 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies, winners of five of their last six games, are firmly in the hunt for a first-round bye as the National League's top team. With a 43-30 record, they are just two games behind the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets, who each lead the league with 45-28 marks.

As a result, the Phillies, already possessing a deep and high-quality squad, will be looking for pieces that will put them over the top and ahead of their competitors, both within the division and outside of it.

MLB Network insider Mark Feinsand believes Luis Robert Jr., a veteran outfielder for the Chicago White Sox, is a trade candidate whom the Phillies should be aggressively pursuing. Feinsand also considers the New York Mets and San Diego Padres as ideal destinations for Robert Jr., should the White Sox decide to sell.

"Robert has been a popular trade candidate for more than a year, yet the White Sox have yet to move the center fielder to this point. Robert’s season has not gone well – he’s hitting .194 with a .590 OPS through 64 games – but he has 21 stolen bases and is playing solid defense, offering potential suitors speed and good glovework at a premium position," Feinsand wrote. "Robert has shown in the past that he can be an offensive contributor, so perhaps a move to a contender would unlock his potential. Robert is earning $15 million this season and has $20 million club options for both 2026 and 2027."

Robert Jr. has spent the entirety of his professional baseball career with the White Sox organization, dating back to his signing with the club as an international free agent in 2017. He is a career .259 hitter with 94 home runs, 111 doubles, 273 RBIs, and 14.5 WAR (according to Baseball Reference) across 532 MLB appearances.

The White Sox as a team have not experienced much success as of late – they have yet to win a playoff series during Robert Jr.'s time in the South Side, and they set a Modern Era record for losses in a single season last year (121). Robert Jr. has still picked up some individual accolades over the years: a Gold Glove Award during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, as well as an All-Star nod and a Silver Slugger Award in 2023.

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

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