Could Phillies be getting glimpse of trade target on South Side?

CHICAGO -- The Phillies might have been watching their future on Monday night.

Luis Robert Jr. hit a Cristopher Sánchez changeup just over the right-field wall at Rate Field for a two-run homer in the fourth inning of the Phillies’ 6-2 loss to the White Sox. Robert could be traded before Thursday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline, and the Phillies are one team that could use him.

“A good amount of my friends have been sending me photos and text messages with rumors and all that stuff, but I tried not to pay attention to that,” Robert said via Chicago’s interpreter.

The Phillies are looking for a closer. It is their greatest need. But the pickings for high-end relievers are slim, with Boston’s Aroldis Chapman pitching for a postseason contender, Baltimore’s Félix Bautista injured and Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase just placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through Aug. 31.

If the Phillies can’t get the reliever they want before the Deadline, they could put more resources into the lineup.

Arizona third baseman Eugenio Suárez is the best bat available, but he left Monday’s game in Detroit after being drilled on the right hand by a 95.6 mph sinker. X-ray results were negative, but he is scheduled to undergo more testing Tuesday.

Suárez would be a tremendous upgrade for the Phillies’ lineup, if they meet Arizona’s asking price. He could play third base until Alec Bohm returns from the injured list, then DH after that.

In that scenario, Kyle Schwarber would move to left field.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Monday that he would be “very” comfortable if Schwarber played left field regularly in the season’s final few months.

“We did that in ’22,” Thomson said. “It worked out pretty well, and I think he’s moving better now than he did back then.”

But Bryce Harper reiterated on Monday that he is willing to play the outfield, if they can significantly upgrade the offense. In that scenario, Suárez could play third and Bohm could play first.

“If it ever gets to that point, I’m willing,” Harper said. “Whenever [Dave] Dombrowski gives me a call or if that right player comes aboard, yeah.

“I played it for a long time. Obviously, I haven’t in a long time as well. If we did have that communication, obviously on days where Bohm or Suárez don’t play, I’d like to stick at first just for reps and things like that. I don’t want to lose first base, just the way I play over there.”

Harper said he hasn’t spoken to the Phillies’ front office about this recently. He said they already know because he made the offer in the offseason, and reiterated his stance in the spring.

“If it’s even a possibility, I’ll do anything for this team to win games,” Harper said. “I don’t think he would move me just to move me. I would think they would get the right player. I don’t think it’s going to be something that’s not right for our team.”

The Phillies would not need Harper or Schwarber to move positions if they got Robert, who is a center fielder. He has struggled the past two seasons, although he has shown signs of life this month, batting .318 with three homers, 11 RBIs and a .957 OPS in 13 games in July.

He also has crushed left-handed pitching all season: .296/.419/.577 with six home runs in 88 plate appearances.

“He's strong,” Thomson said. “He made a heck of a play in the outfield. A line drive to [Brandon] Marsh the first time up, the home run. He's a strong guy that can really run."

“He’s a good player,” Sánchez said.

Less than three days to go.

How will Robert handle it?

“Day by day,” he said in English.