The Phillies announced a few transactions before the start of their must-win series with the Braves. Third baseman Alec Bohm has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, while reliever Connor Brogdon is back from the 10-day injured list. Reliever Ramón Rosso and utilityman Luke Williams were optioned out to clear active roster space. Additionally, veteran outfielder Matt Joyce, who had been designated for assignment over the weekend, has been released.
Bohm is back with the big league club after being optioned a little more than a month ago. That came amidst a very disappointing sophomore season, in which last year’s NL Rookie of the Year runner-up slumped to a .245/.302/.342 line with subpar defensive ratings. Both FanGraphs and Baseball Reference have pegged Bohm as below replacement-level this season, a surprising drop after the 25-year-old hit .338/.400/.481 through his 180 plate appearances last year.
Since being demoted, Bohm has bounced back a bit at the plate. Over 68 trips to the dish with the IronPigs, he’s improved to a .271/.353/.407 mark. He’s only popped one home run in fifteen Triple-A contests, though, and Bohm has continued to struggle to elevate the ball. After posting one of the league’s highest ground-ball rates in the majors (52.8%), the right-handed hitter has hit 25 of his 45 balls in play (55.6%) on the ground in Triple-A. He’ll assume a pinch-hitting/bench role as the Phils look to erase their two and a half game deficit behind Atlanta over their final six games, manager Joe Girardi told reporters (including Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer).
Brogdon returns after missing two weeks due to a right groin strain. It’s a bit surprising he’s made it back so quickly, as reports immediately after he suffered the injury suggested he was likely to miss the rest of the season. The 26-year-old has been a reliable middle relief option, tossing 55 innings of 3.60 ERA ball.
Joyce broke camp with the Phils to serve as a left-handed bat off the bench. Injuries cost him a good chunk of the season, though, and he didn’t produce over 69 plate appearances. He was a league average hitter as recently as last season with the Marlins and has a long history of drawing plenty of walks and hitting for a fair amount of power. Assuming the 37-year-old wants to continue playing, he shouldn’t have trouble landing a minor league deal somewhere with another invitation to Spring Training this winter.
SIIIIIICK LETS GO
Feel bad for Williams who tried very hard. Hopefully back next year to replace Miller.
Yeah, I really liked him. Hopefully he fits into the plan more next year.
Miller has been real good. I don’t want him replaced.
Well… I also strongly agree with this.
It’s only the people who are obsessed with batting averages that want Miller replaced. Sure, just get rid of a guy who plays multiple positions and hits 20 home runs as a backup / part time player, lol
In fairness, Miller is also not a defensive wizard. That said, unless you find someone noticeable better I’d bring him back – he’s passable as a backup, has some pop (20 HRs) and certainly not the biggest defensive issue. You just know going in that Miller isn’t going to win any batting titles.
Do any Phillies fans want to address the Bohm problem? He went #3 in the 2018 draft and was generally considered a high pick. Is it a matter of player development or is it something else? The footage of Freddie Galvis working with him on his positioning, footing, and throwing in the pre-game is embarrassing. Bohm should have learned that in the minors. He’s already 25 and doesn’t look ready for MLB.
I’m not worried about his bat. I fully believe in the sophomore slump. Especially in this era where pitchers have you completely scouted by year two. I think he will adjust there. What I do worry about is his fielding. He has been a terrible fielder his entire minors career. I don’t know if he ever comes around there. And quite frankly, Hoskins walks and power make up for his subpar defense. The same is not true of Bohm. I think the Phillies need an upgrade at 3B in the offseason.
Unless they can get Bryant, I think the Phillies should look at a SS upgrade and then maybe move Didi to third or something.
Where would you put Bohm?
I wouldn’t put Didi at third, but I do agree they need to upgrade at SS as well.
Where would you put Didi, if not SS or 3B? I mean, they’re kind of stuck with Didi for next year, and he’s been absolutely horrible at SS so I figure 3B is the next logical position. As for Bohm, I have no idea where to put him. Bryson Stott is playing well lately so he could be an option somewhere in the infield next year.
I think Dombrowski makes some surprising moves. Didi, Hoskins, Bohm all may be dealt. Who knows?
VonPurpleHayes, what will the Phillies’ off-season payroll look like? I was trying to figure it out a few days ago and there doesn’t seem to be much coming off the books aside from some bullpen guys. Though the luxury limit might go up this off-season, they might not have much wiggle room. What would your strategy be? A free agent and a trade? I guess I’m wondering if they might be in the mix for Syndergaard or Stroman.
McCutchen and Herrera are coming off the payroll as well, should free up some money.
Ah, I didn’t notice the club option/buyouts. That changes things quite a bit.
Cutch comes off. Although he has a club option. That frees up a decent amount. I also don’t think they would be afraid to go over the luxury tax, particularly if they make a playoff push (which seems unlikely to be fair). They look to be in the 160 range. With plenty of holes to fill. They need to improve at SS, CF and 3B. As crazy as this sounds, I think that’s more important than the need to improve the pen. People underestimate how much defense has cost them. Bryant would be a perfect fit, but I think they stay away. That’s going to be a massive overpay. I really can’t even guess what DD does. I expect 1 or 2 medium-level FA signings and a creative trade to improve the core.
I wouldn’t say people underestimate how bad the defense is, it’s been pretty clear for years that the Phillies are a horrible defensive team going back to like 2017, with 2019 being an exception. The FO knows this, but they probably feel like CBP is more suited to bat-first players so that’s who they’ve been throwing money at.
Chris Taylor can play all those positions and has been solid in extended stints at SS and in CF. He turns 31 next August. I love what he’s contributed to the Dodgers, but wouldn’t be surprised if they offer a QO and don’t bring him, back if he declines it. The power in his bat would play well at CBP. A caveat is the exceedingly high strikeout totals that might play less well later on. Still, he fits for a team looking to win. Versatility is important.
Left field. Cutch & Odubel’s contacts will be bought out and the money will be reinvested into pitching and defense.
Correction: Taylor turned 31 this August.
I thought about Taylor but his advanced defensive metrics are not great at their two greatest positions of need (CF/3rd).
He has only started 16 MLB games at 3B. Not a great CF, but covers ground well enough that a team can pair him and a comparable OF in LF and CF. The best free-agent CF will be Marte, who turns 33 in October. A fine year and leads MLB in stolen bases, but at some point, you need to be concerned with age. For now, he can be a major factor for a Phillies team that will be looking to contend right away. The question is how high do you go to get him?
If the Phillies acquire a SS, Didi is playing 3rd. Didi is only in a lineup because he can pass at SS. He doesn’t hit enough for 3rd. Might as well stick with Bohm. DH might answer all of the Bohm questions. Or he might try LF.
Try Bohm in left field. He wouldn’t or couldn’t be any worse than Burrell was.
Odubel may be in the outfield mix next year.
Try him in LF and DH next year. Maybe too much pressure on him playing 3B?
Sophomore slump. Bohm should be a good bet to bounce back next season
I thought Matt Joyce already retired like 5 years ago:)
Package Bohm and Hoskins for a controllable solid arm
Not likely. If Bohm bounces back at the plate, you’d be giving up two starting bats for one pitcher. A no-no unless the pitcher is all-star caliber. And if the pitcher is all-star caliber and controllable, then he’s either a key player on a post-season contender or an important building block for the future. So, why would the team trade him for two defensive liabilities? Who are some pitchers that might make sense for both teams?
They have a pretty good rotation. It’s really their offense and defense that’s problematic. Bullpen too of course.
Too bad Bohm and Rhys are both causes for the subpar defense. I’d like to see how Bohm handles Left Field. Unless the DH comes to the NL, we have to deal with Rhys’ 1st base defense.
Zack Eflin and Gibson should be #s 3&4 next year. Not bad. I hope whatever has ailed Nola is fixed.
I expect Knapp to be moved before next season because they have a solid defensive backup in Rafael Marchon.
3rd, short and left field are holes. I wonder if they bring back Goofy for center. If not, they don’t have a replacement with the Pigs.
Don’t forget Suarez, also Nola’s FIP and SIERA are very good this year, I expect he’ll be fine.
They could try Moniak next year in center, but who knows how that will work out. I think they’ll try and bring Herrera back on a smaller deal.
Gibson can be a 4 and Eflin and number 5 if Suarez remains solid. Either way the Phils 1-5 is decent, especially if Nola fixes himself.
They still need one more starter that can bump everyone from Nola on down on the depth chart. Scherzer would be money for this team but I doubt he signs here after the Girardi stuff.
They truly need more depth. Saurez or Gibson could middle relieve IF everyone stays healthy. That’s a huge if. The current iteration of this team and the Dodgers are perfect examples of how easily a starting staff can be ravaged.
I think Crouse/Medina/Sanchez would be solid choices for what you’re describing. Pitchers better than Nola are going to be a lot of salary to take on, so I feel like they should go younger for depth. If they’re going to invest any money in pitching, it should be in their bullpen. The rotation looks much better now than it did on opening day with Moore and Anderson in the 4 and 5 spots.
I was thinking of the ravaged Dodgers’ rotation. The best team ERA in the game, but that’s due to the depth and eventually reeling in Scherzer. In my opinion, you need a couple of guys you’re comfortable with starting in the event something happens to the top five guys. The Dodgers generally have 7-8 guys and always wind up leaning heavily on all of them.
Joyce is the exact type of player a playoff bound team claims as a playoff PH. Well timed release for Philly, not so much for Matt.
I think Joyce was on the DL at the roster deadline, so the last minute roster addition thing was out of play anyway.
Good looking out, I didn’t know that. Definitely not the type of guy you trade for while injured and hope for the best (like Danny Duffy’s scenario)
I think they should go full rebuild but they won’t.They then need to get Kris Bryant to play third and then go with Stott as your SS.Trade Didi,Hoskins and Bohm and get some pitching
Eflin is toast don’t even count on him.2 Starters and a new bullpen.New hitting coach and pitching coach that have Major League Experience.The bench should be fine with maybe a
tweak or two.We may be able to go with Vierling for LF.Unfortunatley Girardi will be back.
Changes will be coming for the Phillies in ’22.
With Dombrowski, I am expecting 1-2 free agent signings, at least one blockbuster trade and maybe a few lesser trades. along with some minor league promotions (Stotts?)
Wiil Dombrowski sign JD Martinez to play DH
(He signed him as a young player with Detroit).
Phiillies will be even better in ’22!
Bryant isn’t the only option – there are more out of the box possibilities too. Sign two of the SS FAs – Corey Seager would make a nice 3B. Sign Semien and swing Segura over to third. There are options.
Bohm will be fine with some winter defense work. ALL THE $ better go to a new bullpen for the love of G-D
The Phillies go out with a whimper, this team need major changes this off-season.