The Philadelphia Phillies’ outfield has lagged behind the rest of the roster for too long. Over the past two seasons, the team has struggled to find a consistent starting center fielder, while the corner outfielders haven’t provided much offensive production. Most of their acquisitions have been short-term experiments—Harrison Bader offered a brief spark, while Austin Hays and Max Kepler failed to make an impact.
Looking ahead to this offseason, there doesn’t seem to be a clear-cut center fielder available via free agency or trade who would be an obvious upgrade. Yet, some analysts believe now could be the right moment to take a chance.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers suggested the Phillies pursue Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr., whose $20 million club option for the upcoming season was picked up despite two disappointing campaigns following his lone All-Star season in 2023.
Rogers wrote, “It’s time for Robert to find a new home and for the Phillies to shake things up a bit. Last season may represent Robert’s current floor—strong defense and 33 stolen bases—but his ceiling could still be within reach. Placing him in a solid lineup with better pitching and a bit more pressure might unlock his full potential. He’s shown he can hit 38 home runs in a season and bat .338 in a partial year. Put it all together, and he could turn into a steal.”
While Robert’s recent numbers—an OPS+ of 85 over the last two seasons and 2.8 bWAR across 220 games—aren’t impressive, they could be acceptable if his defense contributes to wins. Additionally, playing for three seasons in largely meaningless games can take a toll on any player.
That said, the Phillies would likely need Chicago to cover part of his contract, and there’s a clear risk in betting that a player who has struggled offensively for so long will suddenly return to All-Star form.