As the trade deadline approaches, the rumors are intensifying. The White Sox will undoubtedly be sellers. Rental players like Tommy Pham and Paul DeJong are near certainties to move, and some reports have suggested that the White Sox would even trade stars like Luis Robert Jr. and Garrett Crochet in the right deal. Whether the White Sox will tear it down entirely remains to be seen, but one team that matches up nicely in a potential trade if they make a blockbuster deal is the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Phillies enter the day with a record of 53-27, the best in the National League. They are having a fantastic season and are one of the favorites to win the World Series this season. However, they have gotten minimal production out of their centerfielders and could use another reliever. As a result, Philadelphia has a well-documented interest in Luis Robert Jr. and Michael Kopech. The question is, do they have enough prospect capital to pull off a massive blockbuster trade? The answer is yes.
Andrew Painter headlines the Phillies prospect pool. The #17 prospect in baseball according to MLB.com, the 21-year-old right-handed pitcher has dominated the minor leagues since being drafted in 2021 and would have already been in the majors by now had he not gotten hurt. Unfortunately, he underwent Tommy John surgery in July of last year. Despite his injury, Painter is still highly regarded because of his 70-grade fastball and 65-grade control. He would be a prime target for the White Sox in a potential Robert Jr. trade. Chicago loves accumulating pitching, and Painter would immediately become one of the best pitching prospects in the organization.
If the White Sox target bats, look no further than Aidan Miller. The Phillies first-round pick in 2023, Miller, has a .851 OPS in 52 games between the Low-A and High-A levels this season. He is the #46 prospect in baseball per MLB.com. Miller’s 60-grade power and 60-grade arm make him an appealing building block on the left side of the infield. Given the White Sox lack of premier position player prospects, the 20-year-old infielder is another player the White Sox could target as a centerpiece in a Robert Jr. trade.
Mick Abel could be another potential target. The #59 prospect in MLB, the 22-year-old right-handed pitcher has struggled mightily in AAA this season but is significantly younger than the average player at that level. There is no way Abel would be the centerpiece of a potential Robert Jr. trade at this point, but he could be a lesser piece in the deal.
Justin Crawford is the son of longtime big leaguer Carl Crawford. The younger Crawford is an outfielder with 75-grade speed and a quality defender. Left-handed hitting outfielders are rare in the White Sox organization, so Crawford is another guy whose skillset makes sense for Chicago as a second or third piece in a package.
Starlyn Caba is the Phillies final top 100 prospect according to MLB.com, coming in at #98 on the list. He is also the youngest of their top 100 prospects. The 18-year-old switch-hitting infielder has already shown exceptional bat-to-ball skills and fielding ability at a young age. Scouts believe he will be able to stay at shortstop long-term and have even compared him to All-Star Francisco Lindor. If the White Sox want an upside play at the back end of a Robert Jr. package, Caba is the guy.
Beyond their five top 100 prospects, Philadelphia has several other intriguing prospects, including young shortstops Devin Saltiban, Bryan Rincon, and William Bergolla, as well as outfielders Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Carlos De La Cruz. The Phillies have many interesting young bats who could be secondary pieces in a trade.
Dave Dombrowski is the president of baseball operations for the Phillies and has a reputation for being a winner. He is a two-time World Series winner and has a history of making splashy moves to improve his teams. He has not had an issue with trading away prospects in the past. Overseeing a team with World Series aspirations and multiple top prospects at his disposal, it is not inconceivable that Dombrowski could put his chips on the table and offer a significant package to the White Sox for Robert Jr. and Kopech.
From the White Sox perspective, it truly depends on what route they want to take. The Phillies are a logical trade partner if they decide to burn it down. One of Painter or Miller as the centerpiece, along with one or two of their other top 100 guys, and a flier might be enough to pry Robert Jr. away, with Kopech being a sweetener in a deal. The Sox need impact talent spread over a three or four player package for Robert Jr., and that is what the Phillies have. There is potential for a mutually beneficial agreement here.
