For a while it seemed like the idea of the Philadelphia Phillies trading Alec Bohm was dead in the water. The Phillies had tried to work out a trade for the third baseman this offseason, but, after reportedly asking for ridiculous returns, couldn't get any interested teams to bite on a deal.
After all the speculation and rumors swirling around Bohm and the Phillies had petered off, they're back hot and heavy. According to one Phillies reporter, the team is still open to moving the 28-year-old who put together his first All-Star season in 2024.
Phillies are still open to trading Alec Bohm this offseason
As reported by Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation, Jim Salisbury mentioned on the latest The Phillies Show podcast that the team is still listening on Bohm trades.
"I think their ears are still wide open on Alec Bohm," Salisbury said on the broadcast in response to a fan question about the team pulling off a late offseason move. "Some of that could shake out or maybe become more of a topic when (Alex) Bregman finds his landing spot. But then the (Nolan) Arenado piece is there. That whole third base thing, there seems to still be moving parts.
"But I think Bohm could be part of it, but I’m also very comfortable having him back. I think all these trade discussions, if he’s a competitor, it should really motivate him. He’s two years away from free agency. He’s a very good player. No rush to move him, but I think their ears are continually open on that. So I don’t know where that’s going to go."
Bohm played 143 games in 2024, posting a .280 batting average and career-best .779 OPS (outside of his short 2020 debut). He hit 15 home runs and tied a career-high with 97 RBI, scoring 62 runs and adding five stolen bases. Bohm also led the Phillies with 44 doubles, finishing second in the National League.
His numbers were buoyed by an incredible start to the season when he hit .366 with an 1.036 OPS over the first month. He hit .268 with a .737 OPS from May through the end of August when he went on the IL with a hand injury that derailed the rest of his season, including the postseason.
Phillies trading Alec Bohm still seems like an unlikely outcome
While the front office wasn't "shopping" the third baseman, according to manager Rob Thomson, per NBC Sports Philadelphia's Corey Seidman, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and general manager Preston Mattingly were definitely fielding calls about Bohm.
With his ability to make good contact and keep a tidy 14.2 percent strikeout rate, teams have been interested in the former first-round draft pick this winter. His two years of team control at reasonable arbitration salaries are also enticing to teams, including the Phillies.
The Phillies haven't pulled the trigger on a trade thanks in part to their demands in return for Bohm. They reportedly asked the Athletics for stud closer Mason Miller and the Seattle Mariners for either George Kirby or Logan Gilbert, both top-of-the-rotation arms.
They also don't have an easy replacement at the hot corner if Bohm were to depart. Top prospect Aidan Miller isn't ready and isn't in the team's plans for 2025. The cost of free agent Alex Bregman or a trade for aging star Nolan Arenado seems too rich for Dombrowski's payroll-conscious maneuvering this offseason.
So, while the Phillies are still keeping the lines of communication open about a trade for Bohm, it still seems unlikely.