Ranking first base possibilities for the 2024 Phillies
The Phillies have many options to ponder when it comes to who plays first base in 2024.
First base went from a spot that was completely solidified for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023 to one that never really had a comfortable solution until the second half of the season. The reasoning behind this, of course, was the devastating Rhys Hoskins injury that robbed the longtime Phillie of the entire 2023 campaign.
After Hoskins went down, the Phillies were forced to scramble to find their first baseman. Alec Bohm, the team's primary third baseman entering the season, led the team in games played at first base in 2023 with 69 appearances. Players like Kody Clemens, Jake Cave, and Darick Hall wound up playing 15 or more games at the position as well.
Option #1: Keep Bryce Harper at first base
This is really up to Bryce Harper. If he wants to play first base full time and abandon the outfield, he's going to play first base. If Harper wants to go back to the outfield full time, it sounds like that option is open as well. Both avenues are quite easy to figure out for Philadelphia.
If Harper stays at first base, the Phillies can line up exactly how they did in the postseason. Harper will play first, and they'll have an outfield that consists of Brandon Marsh in left, Johan Rojas in center, and Nick Castellanos in right. With this alignment, Kyle Schwarber will be the team's DH just about every day.
Keeping Schwarber out of the field is how the Phillies can get the most out of their defense. Keeping Harper at first is the same thing, as it ensures Johan Rojas will play just about every day. If Harper was in the outfield, they'd likely slide Castellanos to left field and Brandon Marsh to center field as their bats cannot be removed from the lineup.
It all really comes down to comfort for Harper. The Phillies will be fine offensively regardless. Letting him choose is a fine decision. Just make sure he stays on the field, please.
Option #2: Re-sign Rhys Hoskins
It truly was crushing to see Rhys Hoskins go down with the injury he was forced to deal with at the time it happened. Hoskins was not only trying to help the Phillies win the World Series, but he was trying to get himself paid as he was entering a contract year. Now, he's likely going to search for a one or two-year deal to prove himself once again as a solid first baseman.
Whether Hoskins will get that chance to return to Philadelphia and hopefully finish with a better ending remains to be seen. I know he'd like to come back, but the Phillies have no reason to be desperate to bring him back. They have one of the best lineups in baseball whether he's there or not, and Harper probably isn't much worse defensively, if at all. Hoskins often left a lot to be desired in the field.
Hoskins' ability to get on base at the level he does and hit for as much power as he does will make him a popular free agent target for many teams trying to compete. He can play both first base and DH, and won't come super cheap.
The Phillies have many other areas to address, especially if Harper is comfortable enough to remain at first base. It's not an impossibility that the team brings him back, and I'm sure all parties involved would be happy if a deal came to fruition, but if Harper is willing to remain at first base, it wouldn't be shocking at all to see Hoskins walk.
Option #3: Move Alec Bohm to first base
Alec Bohm played most of the first base for Philadelphia this season out of necessity. Darick Hall, Jake Cave, and Kody Clemens simply weren't getting it done at first base, and the Phillies needed more. Using Bohm at first base and Edmundo Sosa at third gave the Phillies the best chance to win for a while before Harper got settled at first and before Johan Rojas was brought up for the first time.
Bohm showed a lot of strides at third base this season, particularly in the postseason. It felt like Bohm made most of the plays defensively at the hot corner, even when his bat was lagging. Even with that improved defense, it's not an impossibility Philadelphia decides to move him across the diamond. After all, there's a very real chance that first base might be Bohm's best spot defensively.
Still, it's unlikely, as it'd require the team to bring in a third baseman. Sosa's serviceable, but he's not good enough against righties offensively to play every day. If Philadelphia had interest in one of the third baseman free agents and wanted to move Bohm over to first, it wouldn't be the most shocking thing in the world.
If they did that, Harper would be moved back out to the outfield, and Johan Rojas would revert to a bench role. The Phillies would take a step back defensively in the outfield but could arguably take a step forward in the infield, depending on who they bring in to play third base.
Option #4: Sign an external free agent
If the Phillies plan on moving Harper back to the outfield, this becomes a very clear option for Philadelphia to pursue. Rhys Hoskins is likely their top priority, but what if he chooses to sign elsewhere? There are still some decent options they can bring in to play first base.
Josh Bell had an outstanding second half to help the Marlins squeak into the postseason. We know what happened after that, but Bell was a staple in the middle of their order down the stretch after they acquired him. Philadelphia bringing in the switch-hitting first baseman, who just so happens to have an .889 career OPS at Citizens Bank Park wouldn't be a bad move at all.
Brandon Belt got off to a slow start in 2023 and was primarily a DH for the Blue Jays, but he finished incredibly strongly and was consistently hitting second for the Blue Jays as they made the postseason. The Phillies could sign Belt to play first base against righties, and use Alec Bohm at first against lefties with Sosa filling in at third. Belt had an .890 OPS against right-handers this season and would obviously provide a big boost offensively. This is, of course, if he elects to play in 2024 and not retire.
Former Phillie Carlos Santana is another guy the team could bring in to play first base. Santana wound up playing a key role for the NL Central champion Brewers after they acquired him. He'd played an above-average first base in 2023 and would be the lone switch-hitter in the Phillies lineup.
If Hoskins leaves, the Phillies most likely wouldn't be looking at a guy like Cody Bellinger to fill the void, but there are still some solid short-term options for Dave Dombrowski to consider.
More Philadelphia Phillies news and analysis
manual