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Tag: Luis Robert Jr.

  • What Does the Addition of Austin Hays Mean for the Phillies? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    What Does the Addition of Austin Hays Mean for the Phillies? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    At first glance, the Phillies’ trade for outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles is not all that exciting.
    Despite making the All-Star team last year, the right-handed hitting outfielder is not a superstar or at least a burgeoning one, like the White Sox’s Luis Robert Jr.

    His game does not explode off the screen–in more limited action this year than in years past, Hays is hitting .248 with just three home runs in 165 plate appearances. So no, Austin Hays as a player is not inherently exciting–but what he could mean for the team in 2024 is. Hays was brought in to fill a gaping hole in the Phillies’ battered and weary lineup: a righty-hitting outfielder. His services cost the team, Cristian Pache and Seranthony Dominguez, opening another hole in the bullpen and starting a conversation around playing time.

    How will Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas be used now that Hays is on the roster? 

    The initial assumption was that Hays, who positively crushes left-handed pitching–batting .328 with a .894 OPS in 72 at-bats this year–would platoon in left field with Marsh, who hasn’t hit left-handed pitching whatsoever this year.

    Instead, manager Rob Thomson has expressed that Hays would get the chance to start every day. And why not?

    Hays does have the pedigree: from 2021 to 2023, he hit .261 cumulatively, with home run totals of 22, 16, and 16, respectively. He can play all three outfield positions and’ll be under team control via salary arbitration next year. 

    There is a simple truth to Hay’s acquisition: the Phillies are not comfortable, especially in the postseason, with Marsh and Rojas’ ability to start in the outfield every day.

    Marsh, for all of his lovability and defense versatility, cannot hit lefties to save his life. Rojas, who was sent down to AAA earlier this year, cannot hit any pitcher regardless of which hand throws the ball.In October, the Phillies will invariably face a gauntlet of left-handed pitching.

    Whether Hays starts every day or rotates in a platoon with Marsh, the Phillies are primed to be better prepared against lefties. 

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    Dylan Campbell

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  • Finding the Best Fits for the Phillies’ Playoff Push – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Finding the Best Fits for the Phillies’ Playoff Push – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Philadelphia Phillies are the top team in baseball.
    The Phillies don’t have many holes on the roster, but it doesn’t hurt to upgrade at certain positions if it makes sense to give the team a better chance heading into the playoffs.

    Baseball can be a funny game. A team can be loaded with superstars, but still lose to any other team. It’s not quite like basketball and forming superteams like the 2016-19 Golden State Warriors and countless others.

    The Phillies are fortunate enough to have some of the game’s best players already on the roster and just welcomed back both Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber from the IL with J.T. Realmuto not far behind. Is this team one piece away from a World Series Championship?

    Here are four trade targets Dave Dombrowski should consider before the July 30 deadline:

    OAK OF/DH Brent Rooker

    Rooker is a name that came up in rumors

    the past few days, and he’s an intriguing option for the Phillies. The 29-year-old made his debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2020 and spent some time with the San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals before finding a home in Oakland with the A’s.

    He never really got consistent playing time in his career until 2023 when he was named an All-Star and finished the season with 30 home runs and 69 RBI on a 50-win A’s team. Rooker is enjoying similar success in 2024 slashing .282/.362/.544 with 18 home runs and 55 RBI.

    He’s not going to impress you with his fielding, but he does have power at the plate. He primarily is used as the A’s designated hitter, but he does have some appearances in the corner outfield spots this year. Rooker is also under team control for three more years after this season.

    MIA LHP Tanner Scott

    The Phillies haven’t had a consistent closer so far this season. Jeff Hoffman, José Alvarado, Gregory Soto, Seranthony Domínguez and Ricardo Pinto all have saves, but nobody is the defined closer. Enter, Scott.

    The left-hander has been one of the most dominant relievers in the league this year and has been recognized earning his first All-Star selection. Scott owns a 1.42 ERA with 13 saves in 15 opportunities and has only allowed two home runs so far this season.

    This would be a rental option for the Phillies as Scott will be a free agent at the end of the season, but he’d take the bullpen to another level for the playoff push.

    NYM OF Harrison Bader

    This seems like almost a no-brainer type of deal. Bader came into the league in 2017 with the St. Louis Cardinals and has spent some time with the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds before signing a one-year $10.5 million contract with the New York Mets prior to the 2024 season.

    He’s a career .246 hitter, but he’s having a solid season this year slashing .275/.316/.406 with six home runs, 32 RBI and 13 stolen bases. The 30-year-old plays center field which has been an area of weakness for the Phillies this season from an offensive perspective.

    The Mets are hovering around the .500 mark and are only 0.5 games back out of the Wild Card, so there’s a chance Bader might not be available.

    CHW OF Luis Robert Jr.

    The thought of landing Robert Jr. feels like more of a fantasy these days, but you never know what could happen. The 26-year-old has elite talent, but he’s struggled to stay healthy in his five-year career. However, when he is healthy, he’s one of the best players in baseball.

    Robert Jr. has the power and speed to be a difference maker day in and day out. The one-time All-Star is a career .274 hitter and has 85 runs and 54 stolen bases in 407 career games.

    Robert Jr. signed a six-year $50 million extension with the Chicago White Sox in 2020 and is under control through the 2027 season. The asking price for a player at his age with his skill set and multiple more years of team control is high which has been reported as the deadline approaches. The Phillies would have to part ways with one of their top prospects as well as multiple other top-30 organizational prospects to land Robert Jr. in Philadelphia.

    Regardless, he would be an immediate upgrade in all aspects at the center field position.
    If the opportunity presents itself, Dombrowski should be all over it.

    PHOTO: ClutchPoints

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    Mike Hennelly

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