Aug 26, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third base Alec Bohm (28) against the Houston Astros during the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote Tuesday that Phillies may trade third baseman Alec Bohm in an effort to shake up their lineup.
From Passan's massive offseason preview ($):
"Coming off a career-best season, the 28-year-old Bohm nonetheless finds himself on the trade block. While he was a well-above-average hitter -- .280/.332/.448 with 61 extra-base hits -- his first-half OPS was nearly 150 points higher than in the second half, and the Phillies are looking to shake up their team after a disappointing postseason ouster by the Mets."
It's wise for the Phillies to shake up their roster. And while the outfield is clearly in flux, the team has few options for change in the infield. The catcher, first base, and shortstop positions are locked up by big-money stars. Bryson Stott plays gold-glove caliber defense at second base and, even though his offensive production has fluctuated, the Phillies love his ability to make contact.
Bohm brings his own talents to the lineup as well, of course. Though he's not a prototypical power-hitting third baseman, he averages 16 HR per 162 and his 44 doubles in 2024 placed him among the league leaders. His 97 RBI trailed only Kyle Schwarber's 104 for the team lead. And in a lineup full of whiffs, Bohm consistently puts the ball in play.
© Jay Biggerstaff | 2024 Aug 24Moreover, to the extent a "clutch gene" exists, Bohm has it. In his career he's hitting:
- .261 with a .705 OPS with the bases empty;
- .296 with a .788 OPS with runners on base; and
- .312 with an .809 OPS with runners in scoring position.
Bohm has also worked hard to improve his defense from terrible to serviceable to somewhere around the league average for third basemen.
Trading the young RBI machine would be a risky move for the Phillies. But the club knows they can't just run back the same lineup in 2025 and pray for better results.
It seems like Dave Dombrowski and his crew are exploring any and all possibilities for change.
