Third base not exactly flush with options if Phillies do trade Bohm originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The one Phillie who has appeared in more trade rumors than any other this offseason is Alec Bohm, but what if the right offer doesn’t materialize?
This is not a simple situation. The Phillies are trying to improve offensively despite the perception of being locked into their starters at seven of nine everyday spots. The only two unclaimed positions are left field and center field, and Bohm has trade value, thus the exploration of a deal that could bring the Phils help elsewhere.
But what if they don’t find a reasonable return? Bohm has trade value because he’s a good player entering his prime, a seemingly safe bet to hit .280-plus with high doubles and RBI totals.
What would even be the right offer? A less streaky third baseman whose bat is equally productive? It’s not as if the free-agent market is teeming with those. Alex Bregman is the best in the class at the hot corner, but after him, you’re looking at a huge drop-off to platoon or bench players like Josh Rojas, Gio Urshela, J.D. Davis and Jon Berti.
Signing Bregman would indeed upgrade the Phillies at third base and would allow them to move Bohm either before or after that signing. It would give them the flexibility to flip him for a comparably productive player at any position of need — outfield, starting pitching, bullpen, even a package of prospects that could be used in a separate trade for a win-now player.
But that would require signing Bregman, who might command $175 million or more. After Juan Soto, he is probably the best all-around free agent available.
Absent a Bregman signing, there is no clear path to upgrading from Bohm. And Dave Dombrowski is not the type of executive to make a move just to make a move.
Willy Adames, a free-agent shortstop, could be another option if he or Trea Turner is willing to switch positions. There have been indications that Adames, a superior defender at shortstop to Turner who did have a down year with the glove by his standard in 2024, is willing to play third base if needed.
If true, is an Adames-Turner left side of the infield meaningfully better than Bohm-Turner, especially when factoring in the nine-figure contract Adames is expected to find? Adames can hit for power but there are flaws in his offensive profile. He’s belted 87 home runs the last three years while hitting .236 with a .314 on-base percentage and striking out 168 times per year….