The Phillies made a depth move on Monday, acquiring utility infielder Daniel Robertson from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations. Robertson has seen big league action in each of the last five big league seasons, and will likely serve as a depth option in Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The Phillies’ infield has taken a few hits of late, as starting second baseman Jean Segura is on the shelf for at least two months with a broken finger, while backups Johan Camargo and Nick Maton are also sidelined. Shortstop Didi Gregorius has made a triumph return from the Injured List, and has paired nicely with rookie Bryson Stott at the keystone. Beyond Gregorius and Stott, it’s a lot of question marks, with journeyman Yairo Muñoz recently being added to the roster, and outfielder Matt Vierling getting some reps at second and third base.
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Robertson, a 28-year-old California native, can play all over the diamond, but has mostly stayed on the infield grass during his big league career. He was a well-regarded prospect coming out of high school, with the Oakland A’s selecting him in the first round of the 2012 draft.
The A’s went on to ship Daniel Robertson to Tampa Bay along with John Jaso and Boog Powell in exchange for Yunel Escobar and Ben Zobrist. Robertson made his big league debut in 2017, and received semi-regular playing time with the Rays over the next three seasons. He showed well in 87 games in 2018 posting a .797 OPS, but ultimately disappointed in his three-year Rays’ tenure with a .692 OPS. He didn’t fare much better with the Giants or Brewers in 2020 and 2021, respectively, only appearing in 63 total contests.
The Phillies will likely keep their infield situation as-is, barring any more injuries, and keep Daniel Robertson with the Iron Pigs just in case. Hopefully, some of their injured infielders will return soon, and keep the team rolling.