At one point, the Philadelphia Phillies were gaining respect as a serious suitor for superstar outfield free agent Juan Soto. That ship may have sailed already after the initial tease that Philadelphia would meet with Soto to further the discussion of the famous Scott Boras client.
The Phillies may now look to pivot to more modest deals on the market. Ones that certainly won't cost them half a billion dollars. Ongoing negotiations with the White Sox have started before the trade deadline regarding 25-year-old left-handed starter Garrett Crochet. Talks eventually stalled, but the Phillies have since re-engaged in discussions. Recent reports say the deal could include Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm.
Phillies plan to make strong push for free agent third baseman Alex Bregman if Alec Bohm is traded
With the deal possibly progressing, the Phillies will quickly look to fill the hole at third base with another star in his place. That's where Alex Bregman comes in.
Bregman is a 30-year-old two-time All-Star and World Series champion from the Houston Astros. He also has a Gold Glove at third base from this past season. The Phillies are expected to make a strong play for Bregman in the free agent market, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
"If the Phillies trade Bohm, they are expected to make a strong play for Alex Bregman, whose talent and personality would fit in perfectly with the team ..." Nightengale wrote.
The experience Bregman provides will be an x-factor as he has provided big postseason moments in his eight playoff runs with the Astros. Philadelphia got a taste of that in their 2022 World Series matchup.
Bregman would fit perfectly into the Phillies lineup with his combination of defense and true contact ability. Per Baseball Savant, Bregman was in the 98th percentile in whiff percentage in 2024 and has remained in the top 10 percent in strikeout percentage since 2018. He can be quite a difference-maker who could help the problems the Phillies have faced in recent seasons.
However, he won't come cheap, after the latest report about what he's asking for.
"The Houston Astros would love to have Alex Bregman back on a six-year deal worth about $156 million, but Bregman is seeking a deal worth at least $200 million," Nightengale said.
As the days pass and the MLB Winter Meetings are set to begin in less than two weeks, from Dec. 9 to 12, there's a realistic chance the dominos fall the Phillies' way to bring Bregman in, per Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Bregman is also a Boras client and feelers have already been out on what he is seeking in the way of overall money.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and managing partner John Middleton are no strangers to persuading and roping in free agents. If Soto isn't on the table, then Bregman would be a solid substitute if they indeed deal Bohm to Chicago.