The Philadelphia Phillies may be gearing up for a major trade this summer. Whether it happens at the deadline or earlier, the team is well-positioned for another deep playoff push and should look to bolster its roster to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves have started slowly but are expected to bounce back. However, early-season trends suggest the NL East could be a two-team race between the Phillies and the New York Mets.
During a live stream, Bleacher Report’s Tyler Ward proposed a trade idea that would send third baseman Alec Bohm and outfielder Brandon Marsh to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for outfielder Luis Robert Jr. The 27-year-old Cuban star has been one of the few bright spots on a struggling White Sox team, posting career 162-game averages of 30 home runs, 84 RBIs, a .266 batting average, a .786 OPS, and a 116 OPS+. While Robert Jr. may not match Marsh defensively, he boasts impressive range and a strong arm.
Marsh, however, is an underrated hitter, slashing .267 with a .788 OPS and a 118 OPS+ since joining Philadelphia in 2022. While he has benefited from being in a deep lineup, giving up both Marsh and the dependable Bohm for Robert Jr. seems like a steep price—especially considering Robert Jr.’s durability concerns, as he has played 100 or more games only twice (100 in 2024, 145 in 2023).
The Phillies should absolutely pursue elite talent, and Robert Jr. would add excitement to an already star-studded team. However, the cost might be too high, and the timing doesn’t seem right for the White Sox, who are still years away from contention. Rather than acquiring established players like Bohm and Marsh, Chicago would likely be better off targeting a package of prospects.
