The Philadelphia Phillies haven’t emerged as a serious contender for Luis Robert Jr., but they’d certainly benefit from adding the White Sox centerfielder to their lineup.
What makes this connection interesting is that Phillies pitcher Tanner Banks spent time as Robert’s teammate in Chicago. That gave Banks some insight into what Robert’s going through on the South Side.
When beat reporter Scott Lauber asked Banks about Robert’s situation this weekend, he didn’t hold back:
“Across the board in baseball, sometimes that’s what it takes. Just a breath of fresh air. It has nothing to do with where you’re at. Sometimes people just get stuck in doing the same thing, and just a fresh set of eyes, you snap back to reality a little bit. Robert’s a gamer. Certain guys, you wonder if they’re hurt or if they’re pulling the chute.”
Banks is essentially saying what a lot of people around baseball are thinking – Robert might just need a change of scenery to get back to his best.
It’s hard to blame him if that’s the case. Playing for a team that lost more games than anyone in baseball history last year can’t be easy. This year’s White Sox aren’t much better.
Robert’s picked up his play lately, which could be coincidence. Or maybe it’s a guy trying to showcase himself for a potential trade.
The Contract Situation
The White Sox aren’t forced to move Robert. They’ve got club options for 2026 and 2027, so there’s no immediate pressure from a contract standpoint.
But if Chicago does pull the trigger on a deal and Robert takes off with his new team, don’t act surprised. Banks has already laid out why that’s probably the most likely scenario.
The way I see it, Robert’s got the talent to be a difference-maker for any contending team. Sometimes all it takes is getting out of a tough situation and into a winning environment.
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