Jim Bowden of The Athletic, a former MLB general manager, expects the Philadelphia Phillies to make offseason trades. Bowden ranked Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm as the ninth most likely player to be moved this offseason. Furthermore, Bowden wrote that the Los Angeles Angels would be a fit for Bohm. Bowden also mentioned Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman as possible free agent replacements for Bohm. The Phillies’ championship window with this core is over, so trading Bohm as part of a roster reset would be a welcome move. Aidan Miller could also end up as the Phillies’ starting third baseman by the end of 2026, based on what president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said during the end-of-season press conference.
Phillies Will Probably Be Making Offseason Trades
Why Trading Infielder Away Makes Sense
2026 will be Bohm’s age-29 season. In addition, Bohm is under team control for one more season. During the 2025 season, Bohm went on the injured list twice. Bohm had a .287/.331/.409 line with 11 home runs and 59 RBI in 120 games. To add, Bohm recorded a 105 wRC+ and a .324 BABIP with a 0.35 BB/K rate this year. At the plate, Bohm has been consistently average. Across his five non-shortened major league seasons, Bohm has not recorded a 115 wRC+ or better. Outside of back-to-back 97 RBI seasons in 2023 and 2024, Bohm has not recorded more than 75 in a season. Moreover, Bohm has not hit more than 20 home runs in a season. Bohm has recorded an OPS between .710 and .780 in each of the last four seasons.
General Need For Change At The Third Base Position
Bowden is correct that Bohm needs a change of scenery and has maximized his offensive production. The Phillies also need to upgrade at third base to help give Bryce Harper extra protection in the lineup. Bohm has not sufficiently protected Harper as the Phillies’ cleanup hitter. Over the course of his six major league seasons, Bohm has had one season with a 2.0 fWAR or better. That came with a 3.4 fWAR and an All-Star appearance in 2024. The Phillies could also use better defensive value at third base. Bohm had -3 DRS/-2 OAA/-3 FRV at third base in 2o25. Overall, Bohm has -48 DRS/-8 OAA/-10 FRV at third base. Bohm has the worst DRS among qualified third baseman since he debuted in 2020.
Player The Phillies Could Have Interest In Acquiring Through Trade
Bowden mentioned another player on his Top 10 offseason trade candidates list as a fit for the Phillies. Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran is mentioned by Bowden, with the Phillies being the first team listed as a potential fit. Duran was mentioned as a trade candidate for the Phillies around the trade deadline. In 2025, Duran had a .256/.332/.442 line with 16 home runs, along with 84 RBI in 157 games. Duran recorded a 111 wRC+ and a .326 BABIP with a 0.36 BB/K rate this season. Additionally, Duran is under team control through the 2028 season and has a track record of success. In each of the last three seasons, Duran has recorded a 2.0 fWAR or better. In two of the previous three seasons, Duran has recorded a 120 wRC+ or better.
Potential Implications Of Making That Move
Trading for Duran would make it easier for the Phillies to deal outfielder Brandon Marsh. Top outfield prospect Justin Crawford will probably take the spot Max Kepler held on the 2025 Phillies roster. Duran and Marsh are both left-handed hitters. Marsh is under team control through the 2027 season. Nick Castellanos is not expected to be on the Phillies next season, making right field open. One downside to a Duran trade is the potential cost of the prospect. Crawford, Miller, and Andrew Painter are all presumably off the table in trade talks because they could be a key part of the 2026 Phillies. However, this would allow the Phillies to remake their outfield completely this offseason. That would not be the worst decision for this team.
Main Photo Credits: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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