The Philadelphia Phillies are stirring up baseball news this offseason, and it’s all about Alec Bohm.
Yes, the same Bohm who had a breakout season in 2024 and earned his first All-Star spot.
Now, it looks like he might be traded as the Phillies try to shake things up after a rough playoff exit.
At first, this seems surprising, but if you dig into the details, it makes sense why the Phillies are considering this move.
Bohm had a great 2024, at least for most of the season.
In the first half, he hit .295 with 11 home runs in 94 games, and his stats showed he was one of the best players in the National League.
His 2.9 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) ranked him 11th among all NL players, which is impressive.
But the second half? Not so much.
He dropped to a .251 average with only four homers in 49 games.
To be fair, he was dealing with a hand injury that kept him out for a couple of weeks, but the timing couldn’t have been worse.
The Phillies were sliding, and his struggles didn’t help.
As a team, the Phillies had a season of two halves.
They were unstoppable early, with a 62-34 record and a run differential of +110.
After the All-Star break, they went .500, winning just 33 of their last 66 games.
And their run differential fell to +3 in that stretch.
When the Mets knocked them out of the playoffs in the first round, it was clear something needed to change.
So now, Bohm’s name is popping up in trade talks.
Sure, it might seem odd, but it makes sense for a few reasons.
First, Bohm’s value is high right now.
He just had the best season of his career, hitting .280 with 16 home runs, 44 doubles, and 97 RBIs.
And those 44 doubles were among the best in the league, and his numbers with runners in scoring position (.312 average and .809 OPS) show he’s clutch.
His defense, which used to be a weak spot, is now solid—average for a third baseman, but much better than it used to be.
The Phillies, however, are in a tough spot.
Their infield is pretty much set, except for third base.
First base, catcher, and shortstop are all locked down by star players on big contracts.
Bryson Stott, their second baseman, is great on defense and has potential at the plate.
And that leaves Bohm’s spot as the only one where they could make a change.
Trading him could open the door to bringing in another star or improving other areas of the team.
But money is also a big part of this.
The Phillies are already over the luxury tax limit, with $266.5 million committed to payroll for 2025, which blows past the $241 million tax threshold.
If they spend even more, they’ll face serious penalties—up to 60% extra in taxes if they go over by $60 million.
Owner John Middleton has said he’s willing to spend big for the right player, so they’re clearly not afraid to make bold moves.
Bohm’s projected $8.1 million salary for next year makes him affordable for other teams, and his two more years of arbitration before free agency in 2027 add to his trade value.
He’s the kind of player teams would love to have: young, productive, and improving.
But trading him isn’t a guaranteed win for the Phillies.
Bohm isn’t a typical power-hitting third-baseman, but he’s consistent.
He puts the ball in play, drives in runs, and doesn’t strike out much.
He led the team in RBIs (97), just behind Kyle Schwarber, and was a steady presence in a lineup full of big swings and misses.
Though, of course, his postseason struggles didn’t help his case.
Bohm went 1-for-13 in the playoffs but didn’t strike out once.
Still, one hit in 13 at-bats isn’t great, especially when the team needed him most.
That, combined with his rough second half, might be why the Phillies think now is the time to move him.
If Bohm gets traded, it raises a big question: who plays third base?
The Phillies don’t have an obvious replacement on the roster.
Maybe they’re planning to package him in a deal for a bigger star or sign someone new.
Whatever happens, the Phillies aren’t content to just run it back with the same team in 2025.
They’re in win-now mode and need to make changes to stay competitive.
So, we can expect this offseason to get wild.
With Alec Bohm’s name on the trade block and the Phillies willing to spend big, anything is possible.
Fans might not love the idea of trading a young, improving player like Bohm, but the team knows they can’t afford another season like 2024.
Stay tuned—this is just the beginning of what could be a game-changing offseason for Philadelphia.
