Some big names have started signing with new teams as the hot stove continues to heat up. The biggest free agent to find a new club was Willy Adames as he inked a huge seven-year $182 million deal with the San Francisco Giants on Saturday evening.
Adames may not have been the perfect fit for the Philadelphia Phillies' strikeout-prone lineup, but his contract could have set the market for other infielders this offseason. For a Phillies team rumored to be shopping their third baseman, the signing could affect the club's offseason plans.
Alec Bohm’s fate all but sealed by Giants’ big Willy Adames signing
Even though the Phillies were barely rumored to be involved in the market for Adames, his signing indicates what the market for impact infielders could be this offseason.
This affects the Phillies because they have been linked with another big name infield free agent in Alex Bregman should they decide to trade Alec Bohm to shuffle the lineup a bit.
The Adames signing will likely have inflated the contract that Bregman and his team are seeking. The Houston Astros reportedly offered their veteran third baseman a six year deal that would pay out about $156 million according to Brian McTaggert of MLB.com.
The AAV for both Adames and Bregman would be around $26 million per season based off the initial contracts and offers. However, the production of each player varies quite a bit when you look at their career numbers.
Bregman has two more seasons under his belt compared to Adames. In that span he tops the former Milwaukee Brewer in almost every statistical category except stolen bases. The two players are only separated by about a year in age so it would not be surprising to see Bregman's camp ask for more money this winter.
With Bohm being the primary name being shopped on the Phillies' roster, the question is: Would it be worth bringing in another third baseman for the sake of shaking things up?
The biggest issue with the Phillies' offense is their proclivity to swing and miss. Both Bregman and Bohm have relatively low strikeout rates throughout their careers — 13.6 percent for Bregman and 14.2 percent for Bohm. From that standpoint, trading Bohm and replacing him with the Astros veteran could be a wash.
The difference that should be noted when talking about money is age and team control. Bohm would be much cheaper to keep as he enters his penultimate arbitration year. He is also about two years younger than Bregman.
Another X-factor is the trade market. With veteran players like Nolan Arenado seemingly available via trade, the Phillies could have other options should they decide to move on from their 2018 first-round draft pick. The issue with that option is that Arenado is an aging player. Despite his overall fantastic career, would he be an upgrade to a Phillies team that is trying to win now?
The Phillies' front office has a plan. Whether Bohm will be on the 2025 Opening Day roster remains to be seen. Should they decide to move on from him, they will have other decisions to make that could impact their payroll for years down the road or prove to be the change that the organization is seeking in the lineup.