Alec Bohm’s availability on the commerce market isn’t precisely a secret. The previous No. 3 general decide and present Phillies third baseman has been a daily in Philadelphia since 2020, however the Phils are searching for methods to reinforce a gaggle of place gamers that hasn’t carried out as hoped. They’ve reportedly proven curiosity in each Alex Bregman and Willy Adames in free company. They’ll absolutely be tied to Nolan Arenado on the commerce market at subsequent week’s Winter Conferences.
Bohm, 28, actually isn’t a nasty participant or perhaps a sub-par hitter. Nevertheless, he’s solely been a bit higher than common over the previous three years (106 wRC+), and whereas his 2024 marketing campaign regarded early on like a possible breakout, he cooled after a dominant April and hit .258/.303/.410 down the stretch (96 wRC+). He made some strides with the glove this 12 months however had graded as a poor defender in every of his prior MLB campaigns.
Extra very important to Bohm’s commerce candidacy is the straightforward undeniable fact that he’s tradeable in a method that lots of the Phillies’ different hitters are usually not. Nobody is taking the ultimate two years and $40MM on Nick Castellanos’ contract until the Phillies take again a equally unenviable contract. Bryce Harper and Trea Turner aren’t going wherever — not when each of their large contracts include full no-trade safety (and when each are vital lineup cogs as effectively). Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto don’t have that very same no-trade safety, however they’re each within the ultimate seasons of weighty multi-year offers. Schwarber was the crew’s second-best hitter behind Harper. Realmuto presents a great bat at a skinny place the place the market presents little to no method of changing his manufacturing.
Bohm isn’t the one Phillie who’s doubtless being mentioned in trades. Any of Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas, Bryson Stott or Ranger Suarez might be of attraction to different golf equipment. Not one of the group is signed long-term. However Bohm greatest checks the mix of containers that make him a commerce candidate: dwindling membership management (arb-eligible via 2026), productive output, performs a place that Philadelphia can fill with monetary sources that some companions lack. Bohm alone most likely isn’t going to internet the Phillies the high-end nearer they covet, however he might be moved for a point of bullpen assist or controllable/optionable rotation depth — one other space wherein the Phillies are missing.
Let’s run via some speculative suits based mostly on rival golf equipment’ roster wants and payroll conditions:
Clear Matches
Angels: The Halos are paying Anthony Rendon for an additional two years however can’t depend on him to remain within the lineup or produce at this level. Bohm provides them a extra reliable and sure extra productive choice. He may additionally platoon with Nolan Schanuel at first base when the Angels face a tricky lefty, and even step over there full-time if Rendon is wholesome however Schanuel experiences rising pains. The Angels’ farm system isn’t a great one, however they’ve loads of optionable, unproven younger starters on a 40-man roster that has added veterans Yusei Kikuchi and Kyle Hendricks in free company this offseason.
Astros: The precedence is Bregman, however the Astros might want to go to lengths they’ve by no means approached below proprietor Jim Crane so as to retain their longtime third baseman. If Bregman finally ends up signing elsewhere, Houston may flip its focus to Willy Adames … until he indicators earlier than Bregman, in fact. They’ve thought-about quite a lot of contingencies, reportedly together with an outside-the-box choice in veteran second baseman Jorge Polanco. Bohm is a extra easy match. The Astros have some rotation depth and outfield depth to spare, each within the type of younger gamers with MLB expertise and upper-minors names who may debut in 2025.
Blue Jays: The Jays are within the Juan Soto hunt, however they’re extra broadly simply trying to beef up an offense that lacked depth and high quality bats final season. If Bohm is Toronto’s main acquisition towards that finish, it’d be a disappointment for Jays followers. If he’s one in all two or three newcomers, it seems extra palatable. Toronto has toyed with the thought of giving Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extra time at third base subsequent 12 months and has been linked to each Bregman and Adames. They’re clearly open to upgrades within the infield. Ernie Clement and prospects Orelvis Martinez, Will Wagner and Addison Barger are the first choices on the sizzling nook proper now. Toronto is mild on expendable rotation and bullpen depth, which might be a roadblock right here.
Brewers: The Brewers aren’t going to re-sign Adames at market worth. They’re lucky to have two shortstop-caliber infielders elsewhere on the diamond in third baseman Joey Ortiz and Platinum Glove winner Brice Turang. Shifting Turang to a different place after that Platinum Glove may be a attain, however Ortiz may slide from third base to shortstop and provides the Brewers the liberty to search for extra offense at third base. Bohm’s wage is modest sufficient for the Brewers to abdomen. There can be pure Bohm/Devin Williams hypothesis with each being commerce candidates, however the Brewers have some youthful arms they might dangle if they like to not deal from the massive league roster.
Mariners: The Mariners are engaged on a restricted finances this offseason and looking out so as to add at first base and one in all third base or second base (doubtless the previous). Bohm isn’t the massive energy bat the M’s would most likely desire, however which may not be accessible to them if the entrance workplace is unwilling to commerce from a vaunted huge league rotation and if possession certainly isn’t prepared to extend final 12 months’s payroll a lot. Bohm would a minimum of accomplish the crew’s ongoing purpose of decreasing its strikeout fee. There’s most likely good motive to be cautious of the Mariners buying a good-not-great hitter and hoping he can maintain or enhance his manufacturing at T-Cell Park, although. Practically each veteran bat the Mariners have acquired/signed in recent times has gone on to have a career-worst season (e.g. Jorge Polanco, Mitch Garver, Kolten Wong, Teoscar Hernandez, Jesse Winker).
Royals: The Royals moved shortly to re-sign Michael Wacha and have since turned the main target to upgrading the lineup. Transport Brady Singer to Cincinnati in alternate for Jonathan India gave them a contact- and OBP-driven leadoff choice to put atop the lineup. Bohm is in some ways just like India as a contact-heavy hitter with a mixed-bag defensive observe repute and common energy. He’s not essentially the influence bat the Royals are looking for, however he’d add one other strong veteran to a lineup that’s constructed round placing the ball in play. They’ve reportedly expressed curiosity in Bohm already. Kansas Metropolis strains up properly as a commerce associate, on condition that they might provide the Phils some much-needed choice rotation depth. Present third baseman Maikel Garcia is a light-weight hitter however plus defender who may thrive in a utility position (or maintain attraction to groups searching for reasonably priced shortstop assist).
Tigers: Detroit isn’t set at both infield nook. The hope is that former No. 1 decide Spencer Torkelson can but solidify himself as a constant energy menace at first base, however that hasn’t occurred but. At third base, the Tigers are taking a look at a mixture of Matt Vierling, Zach McKinstry, Andy Ibanez and prime prospect Jace Jung. That final choice, specifically, comes with excessive hopes however isn’t a certain factor by any means. The Tigers may purchase Bohm each as a strong choice at third base but in addition a primary base fallback within the occasion of continued struggles from Torkelson. Including him would additionally theoretically make it simpler to commerce Jung in a package deal for a major at one other space of want, equivalent to within the rotation or in left subject.
Yankees: Assuming the plan is to maneuver Jazz Chisholm Jr. again to second base, the Yankees don’t have a transparent reply at third base subsequent 12 months. DJ LeMahieu isn’t ageing effectively. Youthful gamers like Oswald Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera and Jorbit Vivas have but to ascertain themselves. Bohm’s wage could be an reasonably priced addition — of additional significance if the Yankees in the end re-sign Soto — and his contact abilities would differentiate from a Yankees roster that has plenty of swing-and-miss in the midst of the order.
Longer Pictures
It’s lots possible that different commerce choices will change into accessible as extra offseason dominos fall. There’s been loads of hypothesis in regards to the Pink Sox dealing Triston Casas so as to add some pitching and likewise facilitate a transfer from third base to first base for Rafael Devers. In that situation, Bohm may emerge as a 3rd base choice for Boston. The Pirates may contemplate Bohm in the event that they miss on different targets at first base. If the Phils are prepared to deal inside their very own division — maybe a protracted shot for that very motive — the Mets may make sense if Pete Alonso leaves and Mark Vientos slides to first base. The Nats may view Bohm as an reasonably priced candidate to maintain third base heat for prospect Brady Home earlier than sliding over to first base. If the A’s strike out on free brokers, they might feasibly look to the commerce market as a method so as to add some payroll and guarantee their potential to retain their standing as a revenue-sharing recipient. The Reds have a crowded mixture of younger infielder however are missing in established contributors. Bohm may match there within the wake of Cincinnati’s Jonathan India-for-Brady Singer swap, however an outfield bat looks like a cleaner match.
