The Philadelphia Phillies are one of Major League Baseball's best teams, while the Chicago White Sox are one of the worst. And while the Phillies need outfield help, the White Sox also happen to have two of the most appealing trade candidates in the outfield at this year's deadline.
Does that sound like a perfect match or what? In Luis Robert Jr. and Tommy Pham, the White Sox hold all the cards when it comes to the outfield market this season. Robert has three years of team control after 2024 (on guaranteed year and club options in 2026 and 2027) and Pham is a pure rental, so both will come with varying asking prices in addition to their skillsets.
It's easy to look at the situation and think the Phillies have a decision. Do they go for the blockbuster in Robert or make the sensible trade for Pham? But why settle for just one of the two? In this piece, we'll discuss a perfect trade proposal that lands the Phillies both Robert and Pham and helps the White Sox replenish their lifeless roster with a solid influx of young talent.
How likely are White Sox to trade both players?
Robert is the bigger name, but let's start with Pham. When the White Sox were announced as the team signing the 36-year-old veteran after the season had already begun, it seemed clear as day that they intended to trade him. Non-contending teams are becoming smart enough to realize that if they sign veteran bats at a discount in the off-season, even if it gets them no closer to a playoff spot that season, it can be an easy way to acquire other teams' top prospects. It would be shocking to see Pham remain in Chicago past July 31.
Robert, meanwhile, is a more complicated question. As a 30-plus home run bat and strong defensive center fielder, the 26-year-old Cuban product could be one of the best players in baseball for the next half-decade. But he also has just one fully healthy season to his name: Last year, when he notched his first career All-Star appearance and Silver Slugger award.
Determining Robert's value as a team looking for outfield help is going to be critical. The White Sox are going to demand a steep price for his services because while his value is sky-high now, they can still trade him in the off-season or next year if the right offer isn't there. Teams like the Phillies will have to pony-up if they want to pry Robert loose from Chicago's clutches.
Luis Robert Jr. and Tommy Pham fits with Phillies
Because the Phillies have virtually their entire outfield returning from last season's NLCS run, it's reasonable to think adding two names to the mix is unnecessary. However, you can literally never have too many big-league position players for a playoff run. The Phillies found that out last season when they had to send Jake Cave to the plate with one out left before elimination and they tried to assuage the problem by signing Whit Merrifield before this season.
Bringing in both is a perfectly legitimate option for the Phils. Robert would take over on day one as the everyday center fielder for Johan Rojas, who can be a late-inning defensive replacement or flipped elsewhere in another trade. Pham, meanwhile, could platoon with Brandon Marsh in left field while pinch-hitting against tough relievers, especially lefties.
With the Phillies unsure of J.T. Realmuto's status, it's possible the team could be down an impact bat and their everyday catcher by October. Having a reliable option to pinch-hit for the catching position would therefore be crucial to success–and either Pham or Marsh would be available every game if this move gets made.
Phillies' perfect offer to land Robert, Pham
In this early-season blockbuster, we're sending Philadelphia's No. 1 prospect Andrew Painter, No. 4 prospect Justin Crawford, and No. 8 prospect Eduardo Tait to Chicago for Robert and Pham. Painter, a right-handed pitcher who is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery, is currently MLBPipeline's No. 18 overall prospect, while Crawford clocks in at No. 62.
Painter is the name most fans would be hesitant to give up, because top-tier starting pitching prospects are the lifeblood of a successful pitching staff. But the Phillies have the strongest rotation in MLB right now and with the emergence of Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez, they have four starters locked in for the foreseeable future. Their No. 3 prospect, Mick Abel, could easily take over the fifth starter role next season with Painter gone.
Is it a steep price? Absolutely. But you have to consider the value of acquiring Pham and Robert as a package deal. It gives the Phillies insurance for their outfield this season, then a premier center fielder for 2025 and 2026. You never know how many good years you have with a veteran core and the Phillies are under immense pressure to win a World Series to validate Bryce Harper as a Philly sports legend. This is how they get that done.
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