Phillies Off-Season 2024-2025 (Hot Stove)

[EDmuch]

With the surprising development of Otto Kemp and Miller approaching the majors, I don't see the Phils wanting to make any log term commitments to any UFA infielders. I can see them being ready to move on from Bohm but not to a significant UFA infielder.

[BostonRoss]

It might be timely to trade Bohm. He’s coming off a good year and is cheap. The defense would improve, and maybe he could bring some pitching in return.

[zambonir]

I certainly think Bregman is a longshot on both sides of the equation - Astros want to keep him, and Phillies not only have a current and hopefully future 3B but really don't need to give another 6-7, near $200 million deal to a FA (while also facing the penalties for doing so). However, if they don't just do the obvious this off-season, you never know what it might be and who else it might effect.

[jimbomill]

really don't need to give another 6-7, near $200 million deal to a FA (while also facing the penalties for doing so)

Absolutely salient points. Plus, Bregman will be 31 to start next season. To me, that's maybe 2 to 3 fair years left. Plus, in the pretty potent Astros lineup, he had 75 RBIs, which means Bohm was better in that department.

[fish]

6-7, near $200 million deal to a FA

I know he’s been projected for this, but doesn’t that seem like an awfully rich deal for him? I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get something more like Castellanos deal- maybe 5 years 125 considering his defense

[zambonir]

I was definitely exaggerating a little but MLBTR says 7/182, Athletic 7/185.5. And my bet is if the Phillies really did it they'd go longer, so you might get the AAV down from 25-26 to 20-22, but it would be 8 or 9 years.

His defense may not be great but you could say the same about our $300 million/11-year shortstop.

For me the penalties are a bigger issue. But the choice it really comes down to is - spend money/give up picks in December, or be more modest in the off-season but possibly have to spend prospects in July.

[Austinfan]

Yeah, let's bring in another overpaid, over 30 starter.
So in three years we can pay $100M for replacement players.
That's a great strategy.

[DurhamBull]

It might be timely to trade Bohm. He’s coming off a good year and is cheap. The defense would improve, and maybe he could bring some pitching in return.

I was with you up to the third sentence. I like Bohm, but I think it's reasonable to speculate that he may have just had his peak season, so trading him might be selling high. However 3B defense improvement depends on who you replace him with! For instance, one could propose...Nick Castellanos! Points in his favor: he's already on the team, he has logged over 4000 innings at 3B, and it would give the team the opportunity to improve RF. Nevermind that he hasn't played 3B since 2017 and was not exactly a smooth fielder then...

I'm joking, but hopefully my point is clear. Regardless of how one rates Bohm's fielding (and I think a lot of people would say he has at least improved to "average"), it's definitely possible to replace him (or anyone!) with someone worse.

[zambonir]

Well, one assumes they wouldn't trade Bohm without a viable plan for the postion, but even if they did nothing it's possible there are other people returning from the current Phillies roster who might play better defensive 3B than Bohm (though several of them would not hit nearly as well). Yeah, he's gotten better, and DWAR liked him last year, but DRS still put him at exactly 0, which made him 19th of 28 3Bs who played at least 500 innings. Bregman was +6. Vientos was -6. Riley was also 0.

Sosa and Kennedy were +1 and Wilson -1; whether more playing time would hurt or help them, hard to say.

But I think Turner is the guy you'd try to move to 3B if you got serious about it. Then add another 2B/SS to complement Sosa and Stott. This is of course probably as far-fetched as signing Bregman.

[BostonRoss]

I was thinking that the short term replacement might be Sosa, but it might end up being a combination that includes someone like Clemens, who might not be better defensively.

On the other hand, if Nick moved to 3B, the defense would improve--in the outfield!

[Austinfan]

I'd trade Sosa before I traded Bohm this winter, not sure he can sustain his play over 600 PA, but right now he probably looks good to a number of teams as a starting SS (where .700 OPS could make him an Allstar).

I'd move Bohm next season if Miller is ready.

[Taudawg]

I haven't seen any real reports of Phillies' interest in Bregman. Only suggestions by writers/bloggers, and mostly on AI created content and clickbait sites like SI and Sporting News. It's a little safer to assume Alec Bohm is on the trade market, as stories related to Alec reference quotes made by credible journalists.

[zambonir]

The source for the Bregman thing was someone in another team's front office, via Buster Olney. But it was a prediction, not a rumor. However, it's also connected to the fact that Bohm's availability does seem to be more than just, they're listening.

[David_Criss]

Trading Bohm would be a huge step backwards IMO. The kid can hit. I haven't heard anything about his antics and immaturity rubbing people the wrong way in the clubhouse. If they trade a bat it needs to be Casty and his $40 million.
I also think they should explore a Walker for Montgomery trade. It adds $4.5 million to this year, however neither are going to be successful with their current teams. Just my 2 cents.

[fish]

I also think they should explore a Walker for Montgomery trade.

I love Montgomery for the rotation, but I doubt the dbacks are looking to trade him for another problem. I think if they eat his salary down to 10-12 million they can get a 6-10 prospect.

[andyb]

The reason to trade Bohm and not Casty would be because Bohm can hit. He has trade value while his salary is relatively low where Casty does not have the low salary. Bohm also projects as someone who may not age well at his position, and we have other 1Bs and DHs that can hit better than he does.

Check out the Phillies sprint speed from last year. Bohm is already slower than everyone on the team other than Schwarber and Marchan (and Schwarber is faster to 1B because he is left-handed).

Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard

Now I would only trade him to carve out a place for Miller somewhere. I would not do it to get Bregman. We can find a 1-year 3B solution until Miller is ready. And trading Bohm gets us something of significant value. Maybe bullpen help. Maybe additional prospects. Maybe part of the LF solution. We trade Bohm not just to clear a position, but to get something in return. If we cannot get something worthwhile in a trade I am perfectly happy with Bohm on arbitration salaries.

[Taudawg]

Now I would only trade him to carve out a place for Miller somewhere. I would not do it to get Bregman. We can find a 1-year 3B solution until Miller is ready. And trading Bohm gets us something of significant value. Maybe bullpen help. Maybe additional prospects. Maybe part of the LF solution. We trade Bohm not just to clear a position, but to get something in return. If we cannot get something worthwhile in a trade I am perfectly happy with Bohm on arbitration salaries.

Yes, this

[Austinfan]

But that's why I'd trade Sosa, a lot of teams probably project him as a starting SS, which should have as much or more value as Bohm.
He's a plus fielder with 17 HRs in 574 PA over the past two seasons. 3.0 WAR over that period.

They're going to lose him in a year in any case, and Kemp/Kennedy et al could move to 2B and Stott to SS if Turner gets injured.

Then trade Bohm next year. By which time Miller should be ready and the other IF prospects in AA or higher

[zambonir]

I just don't know that I believe any good team sees Sosa as a starting SS. I could see trading him for a more expensive player to a team that would then flip him at the deadline. But that's not to say I wouldn't trade him. A LH complement for both Bohm and Sosa would make more sense.

Things will happen pretty fast this year I think. Boras got burned last year, he won't wait forever, and the market won't wait for him if he does.

My question is, where is Miller really going to end up playing?

[saycheese]

Yes other teams front office . Could be Bregmans agent trying to drum up business for him. He is a solid player but not one that should carry the qualifying offer. Having to give up two draft picks plus international money and a rather large contract I just don't see it.
Could they deal Bohm, possibly. I think its makes more sense to wait until at least mid season if not the offseason when you have a better read on Miller. Who looks like he is going to be an above average player. Whether he sticks at SS and Turner moves to third or they try him at 3rd.

The Phillies are going to be involved in quite a few rumors. They are big money spending team and they have three premium prospects in the upper levels in Painter, Crawford and Miller. Possibly four or five depending on how other teams feel about Abel or Chace. DD holds things close to the vest so I doubt much of these rumors will come to bear.

I do expect more action this offseason than what we had last. They need a back end bullpen as both Estevez and Hoffman are FA. Have to figure out LF and CF. Also they need an upgrade behind JT. Now that could be Marchan.

Could they blow it up some. Maybe, but I just don't think Bohm is the guy they are going to trade right now. Could be wrong. He does have a significant amount of value