JUST close: According to sources who spoke with ESPN, the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox are closing close on a deal that would transfer star outfielder to Philadelphia.

$50 Million Slugger Has Emerged As Blockbuster Trade Fit For Phillies

Amid the flurry of unhinged reports fired off from ESPN reporter Buster Olney’s X account this week — which included announcements that Sohei Ohtani faces a life sentence in prison and that the ongoing season would be canceled due to COVID-19 — was a relatively-credible blockbuster trade announcement.

“The Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox are finalizing a deal that will send star outfielder Luis Robert Jr. to Philadelphia, sources tell ESPN,” Olney’s account, which had been hacked, announced to its 1.3 million followers.

It’s hard to say why the hacker opted to share that piece of fake news amid so many outlandish posts, but it was reasonable enough to convince local Philadelphia sports radio station WIP, among many others. Victims of the ruse can be forgiven though. The hacker was not the first to suggest that Luis Jr., a slugging outfielder who signed a six-year, $50 million extension with the White Sox in 2020, is an ideal trade fit for the Phillies.

Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer listed Philadelphia as the “top landing spot” for the 26-year-old. New York Post MLB columnist Jon Heyman listed the Phillies as one of Robert’s primary suitors. Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden reported that the Phillies front office is interested in swinging a deal with the White Sox to land the slugger.

“The Phillies have been the National League’s best team but aren’t resting on their laurels. They’re looking to improve their overall outfield and have interest in Luis Robert Jr. and Tommy Pham,” Bowden wrote. “The Phillies and White Sox do match up well on a blockbuster-type deal. Robert is under team control through 2027 on a club-friendly deal.”

Aside from whatever unnamed sources Bowden is relying on, the speculation can be largely driven by a handful of apparent factors. Firstly, the White Sox are likely open to trading any member of their roster, even those players who will remain under club control into the future. This was made clear when the team dealt its best pitcher, Dylan Cease, along with his 2025 arbitration eligibility, to the San Diego Padres in March, but Robert might have been an exception.