The Phillies have acquired utilityman Daniel Robertson from the Twins in exchange for cash, according to both teams’ transaction logs at MLB.com. There’s been no formal announcement of the move by either club just yet.
It’s likely a depth move for the Phillies, who’ve lost Jean Segura (surgery to repair broken finger), Johan Camargo (knee strain) and Nick Maton (shoulder sprain) to the injured list since the calendar flipped to June. Robertson wasn’t on the 40-man roster with the Twins, and there’s no indication as of yet that the Phillies plan to select him to the big leagues at this time.
The trio of Phillies injuries has led to Didi Gregorius and top prospect Bryson Stott splitting middle-infield duties, with the former rebounding (somewhat) from an awful 2021 showing and the latter generally struggling to reach base in his first big league season. Gregorius’ power is nowhere to be seen, but he’s posted a .280/.345/.393 batting line through 119 plate appearances this season. Stott has begun to show some pop at the dish — four homers, two doubles in his past 19 games — but is still hitting just .215/.261/.431 in that stretch. The Phillies have also selected former Cardinals utilityman Yairo Munoz to the big league roster to add some depth to the bench, and Matt Vierling gives them another option — though he’s been used primarily as an outfielder thus far in his limited MLB work.
Robertson, 28, has appeared in parts of five Major League seasons, mostly with the Rays but also with the Giants (2020) and Brewers (2021). The former No. 34 overall draft pick (Athletics, 2012) looked to have broken out with the Rays in 2018 when he hit .262/.382/.415 in 340 plate appearances, but he’s posted just a .209/.317/.292 slash in 351 subsequent trips to the plate spanning the 2019-21 seasons. He’s appeared in 24 minor league games with the Twins and posted a combined e.220/.326/.390 batting line between their Complex League and Triple-A affiliates.
Robertson has played every position on the big league diamond other than catcher and center field, though he’s primarily spent his time at second base (816 innings), third base (601) and shortstop (569). In the estimation of defensive metrics like Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average, he’s drawn solid marks for his work at second base and below-average (but not awful) grades at those other two infield slots.
The Phillies have acquired him from the Phillies? That’s one way to be sure you don’t lose a trade.
More like one way to make sure you definitely lose a trade.
I’d rather be traded to the modesto nuts than live in Philadelphia
Enlightened.
I’m sure you’ve spent lots of time there in order to form that scorching hot take.
You have no clue bro. Where do you live?
Philly is great and doesn’t need dudes like you who know nothing about it.
If PHI really wants to make things interesting, they should bring in Daniel Robertson the outfielder. Because why not have two players with the same name on the same team?
The Phillies have been playing some exciting baseball lately!
Love to see it! Mets and Braves have also been playing very well.
Will be interesting to see what teams like the Phillies do at the Trade deadline.
Phillies should not even think about giving guys from the “Top 5” prospects list.
Future top of the line starting pitchers Nick Abel and Andrew Painter should be
“‘untouchable” in trades,
I would add Logan o’Hoppe and Francisco Morales to that list as well. Realmuto has not looked great this year and they need someone to transition to in the next two years. They also really need other young relievers with high upside like Morales.
Morales may have to go in a trade for David Bednar.
okay why do the Phillies have to trade for Bednar of all people?
Since Realmuto is signed through 2025, it may be worthwhile to offer him to the Cubs for Contreras. He still has value, but clearly he’s not aging well. As Dick Wagner used to say, “Better to make a trade too early than too late.”
Actually it was Gene Mauch who stated, “better to trade a guy a year too early rather than a year too late”.
Believe Morales just sent down to AA
Phillies have some other players in A and AA ball that could be
used to land a few more relievers and maybe help in CF.
Camargo will ge back soon.