There should be no shortage of teams interested in acquiring the 2023 All-Star, but these four should be at the top of the list.
Philadelphia Phillies
This would be a case of the rich getting richer, but it would be a fantastic match for the team and its needs.
The Phillies are already the best team in the National League and boast one of the most powerful lineups in baseball, but they do have a pretty big hole in centerfield. Johan Rojas is hitting just .234 with a dismal .572 OPS. Right fielder Nick Castellanos is also having a down year.
As good as the Phillies are, they need help in the outfield, and Robert Jr. is the type of impact bat that could help them continue dominating in the National League.
Atlanta Braves
Ronald Acuna Jr. is done for the season, leaving a gigantic opening in the middle of the Braves lineup and outfield. This must be addressed, especially since their outfield depth is not impressive.
Michael Harris II is a rising star but has struggled through the first few months. Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall are not difference-makers by any stretch, and if the Braves will outlast Philadelphia or Los Angeles in the postseason, they need more pop from their outfield.
Replacing Acuna Jr. is not going to be easy, and while Robert Jr. is not a perfect replacement, he could at least come close to duplicating some of what Acuna Jr. does. Especially regarding power — Robert Jr. hit 38 home runs in 2023.
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners enter the weekend first in the American League West and are a sneaky pennant contender.
Their pitching staff is excellent and they have one of the league’s most exciting players in center fielder Julio Rodriguez.
But they could use another star-level player to complement Rodriguez in their lineup especially when their corner outfielders are journeymen Luke Raley and Mitch Haniger.
The Mariners are still seeking their first-ever World Series appearance, and they have many pieces in place to get there sooner rather than later. They just need a boost, and that could be Robert Jr.
Pittsburgh Pirates
This would require the Pirates to step out of their comfort zone as an organization and do something significant to improve their present situation. As unlikely as that seems, given the Pirates’ history, this might be the best possible fit.
Not only would Robert Jr. step into the lineup and immediately become their best position player, but he is under team control through 2027 (assuming all of his team option years are picked up) at a very team-friendly $63 million. If Pittsburgh were willing to pay Aroldis Chapman $10.5 million to walk batters and blow leads, they should be willing to pay Robert Jr. to improve their lineup.
The emergence of Paul Skenes and Jared Jones to accompany 2023 All-Star Mitch Keller has given them a playoff-caliber pitching staff. Now, they just need some bats to take advantage of that window.
