Jul 19, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (28) high-fives in the dugout after scoring a run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports Charles LeClaire
Every Tuesday, On Pattison's Tim Kelly and Anthony SanFilippo will answer your questions from social media pertaining to the Phillies. Let's get to it.
@ThirtyBallparks on Threads: Why do you think a lot of teams have said “No thanks” when it comes to trading for Alec Bohm? Are the Phillies asking for too much or is he just not as good as we think he is?
Tim Kelly: Bohm is a player reasonable minds can disagree on. He's driven in 97 runs in consecutive seasons, and had 44 doubles in 2024. He's still relatively affordable for the next two years before he reaches free agency.
He, at least to this point, hasn't become the 30-home run player many thought he could be at the outset of his career. He grounds into a fair share of double plays. He's massively improved in the field, although he's probably still a replacement level defender. And his troubles controlling his emotions at times have been well documented.
Phillies asked for Mason Miller when A's called on Alec Bohm, according to @Ken_Rosenthal.
Analysis at @OnPattison: https://t.co/jGoRSP2yfF
— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) December 15, 2024
Bohm has value, but he's not the type of piece that's going to bring back a star. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported last weekend that the Phillies asked the Athletics for closer Mason Miller when they called on him. Talks ended there, Rosenthal wrote. Yes, it's good to aim high early in trade talks. But you don't want to aim so high that the other side hangs up the phone.
Dave Dombrowski has been doing this longer than I've been alive, so he's earned the benefit of the doubt. But if some of the reported asking prices on Bohm are true, then yes, the Phillies have aimed too high. They could keep Bohm, but I think it's fair to wonder how he'll respond if he gets off to a slow start and fans grow impatient.
Anthony SanFilippo: Look, I think the answer here is pretty clear. The Phillies don't have a lot to trade if they plan on remaining competitive for a World Series. They are trying to thread the needle by hanging on to as many top prospects as possible so this isn't a situation where the window slams shut on them in a couple seasons. As such, they are hoping they can improve their team by throwing names like Bohm and Ranger Suárez out there. Currently the asking price is high — as it should be — for Bohm. You don't just trade away a productive contact hitter like that for below value.
But the reality is, because the Phillies are in the position that they are, other teams know they don't have a lot of wiggle room. When you start looking for the warts in Bohm's game — lack of power production, diminishing returns after the All-Star game, mediocre-at-best defense, and a little bit of poutiness — it's easy for another team to come back at the Phillies and say his value isn't as high as they think it is.
All that said, it's still December. There's still a lot of good players not signed. There are still tradable commodities on every team. Dombrowski knows how the game works. He's playing it. It doesn't mean he'll win it, but he's playing it — and he's sure going to try to get it right.
@DavidEsser_ on X: If Alec Bohm ends up getting moved, who do you want to see at third base for the Phillies?
Tim Kelly: I've been pretty consistent all offseason in saying that I think Ha-Seong Kim would be an excellent fit for the Phillies. He draws walks, doesn't strike out a ton and puts the ball in play. He's also an excellent defender at shortstop and second base, which could come in handy if there's ever an injury.
Ha-Seong Kim with a nice diving grab! pic.twitter.com/9ilLN8rs7P
Speaking of injuries, Kim had shoulder surgery in October, and may not be ready for Opening Day. With Edmundo Sosa, Kody Clemens and Weston Wilson, I believe the Phillies have enough to tide things over until Kim is ready. When you're a team with World Series aspirations, not signing someone because they might not be in the lineup on April 10 feels short sighted.
The most attractive thing about Kim is the San Diego Padres didn't extend a qualifying offer to him, so the Phillies wouldn't have to surrender draft compensation to sign him. They would also be able to extend a qualifying offer to Kim if he signs a one-year deal or a multi-year deal with an opt-out and is back on the market next offseason.
Anthony SanFilippo: Aidan Miller. Oh, you meant in 2025? A serviceable veteran to get you to Miller in 2026. Earlier this offseason, I was on the Alex Bregman bandwagon, and I still would be if the Phillies would use Miller as part of a trade to land a bigger fish for the outfield. But, balking at including Miller in a trade with the White Sox for Garrett Crochet, despite offering him in July, tells me the Phillies brass really believes in the kid. If that's the case, sign me up for a transition player to get there.
@OscarBudejen on X: Should the Phillies trade their promising young talent during the current World Series window?
Tim Kelly: I'm torn on this. I do think the window on this current group is closing. Zack Wheeler and J.T. Realmuto are 34. Bryce Harper is 32. Aaron Nola, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber are 31. To add another big star via trade, the Phillies are going to have to give up more than they want.
At the same time, I lived through 2012-2021. The biggest issue for the Phillies after their golden era of 2007-2011 wasn't necessarily that Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Jimmy Rollins all got old at once. The biggest issue was a lack of impact talent on the farm system to replenish the MLB roster. The Phillies farm system seems to be finally turning the corner now, and it would be a tough pill to swallow to gut it for another expensive player in their early 30s.
It would have been understandable if Andrew Painter had shown some rust in the Fall League, where he was making his first competitive appearances since 2022.
Instead, he looked as dominant as ever.https://t.co/Nhcyt03GaL pic.twitter.com/SjumlyKvP5
My final answer is I wouldn't trade Andrew Painter in just about any situation. The talent is so high there, that I'll take the risk that he doesn't pan out or can't stay healthy. The ace upside is not something I would give away, even if he already has a Tommy John surgery on his resume. It would take a very special opportunity for me to move Miller, who almost all outlets have as a top 40 prospect. Whether it's shortstop or third base, the Phillies are going to need some young talent to supplement their roster as Harper and Turner age. Anyone after that should be more open for discussion, in my opinion. But I think it's OK to prospect hug if you believe the prospect has All-Star type upside, which the Phillies seemingly do with Painter and Miller.
Anthony SanFilippo: Depends on how far down the prospect list you want to go, Oscar. I agree with Tim on Painter, and while I would be less reluctant to trade Miller, I agree it would have to be bringing a game-changer on board. But if you look down the list further — Justin Crawford, Starlyn Caba, Eduardo Tait, Dante Nori — any of those guys and more if it gets you that last piece of the puzzle.
@NorthernWill4 on X: A lot of complaining about Phils lack of moves, but I’m fine with it. Would you have included Painter in the Crochet deal? How bout Bohm, Ranger and Crawford for Tucker? $240M for Bregman? What exactly does everyone want them to do? Thx
Tim Kelly: Will, I agree with you to a degree.
I wouldn't have included Painter in a deal to acquire Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox. I don't know if Alex Bregman will get $240 million, but if your point is that his deal might not age well, you don't have to do a ton of convincing here.
But would I have traded Alec Bohm, Ranger Suárez and Justin Crawford for a year of Kyle Tucker? Yes, and probably not without a ton of hesitation.
Anthony SanFilippo: I'm fine with being patient until you feel like the right deal has come along. I really am. I do think the team needs to change and running it back a second time is foolish, but I also know this process is a game of cat and mouse sometimes. Act interested. Act disinterested. Keep them guessing. It's not a bad way to catch a team with their pants down.
Were the Phillies prudent to not trade four prospects for Crochet, like Boston did? Probably. To beat it they would have has to trade both Miller and Crawford and probably two more prospects further down the list. As for Tucker, the Cubs gave up Isaac Paredes — he's a legit everyday player in the lineup. Hayden Wesneski is akin to Orion Kerkering. Are you giving up a top prospect, Kerkering and then Bohm for one year of Tucker? Seems like a lot to me. I'll disagree with Tim here. The Phillies don't want to be a team that is no good come 2027. They want to be a contender year-in and year-out. They've been able to do it to this point with the only real homegrown talent consisting of Aaron Nola, Bryson Stott, Suárez and Bohm. They would like for it to be a deeper pool than that so they can better manage the team's finances and don't have to go out and spend beyond tax thresholds that few have ever surpassed. A good mix of costly vets and burgeoning young stars is what wins championships in this league. The Phillies want to do the same, but they can't give up the future for one crapshoot.
I'm all in favor of hanging the roster. I'm just not in favor of making the team irrelevant again a few years from now.
Phillies asked for Mason Miller when A's called on Alec Bohm, according to @Ken_Rosenthal.
Analysis at @OnPattison: https://t.co/jGoRSP2yfF
