This week's mailbag gets into the concept of trading Alec Bohm, possible targets for the Mariners and Guardians, Roki Sasaki's decision, the Pirates' catching surplus, various hypothetical trade scenarios, and much more.
Eric asks:
What could the Phillies reasonably expect in return for Alec Bohm and a second tier prospect?
Bohm, 28, posted a full-season best 115 wRC+ in 606 plate appearances this year, good for a career-best 3.5 WAR. That's despite a 74 wRC+ over the season's final two months. His struggles continued into the Phillies' four NLDS games against the Mets. I assume this is why Phillies fans seem to want to get rid of him. Bohm projects for an $8.1MM arbitration salary in 2025 and is under team control through '26.
Though he's a solid player, there is real evidence the Phillies are considering moving Bohm. Yesterday, ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote, "Coming off a career-best season, the 28-year-old Bohm nonetheless finds himself on the trade block." Passan offers no rationale beyond the Phillies "looking to shake up their team."
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68 million….. in PROFIT.
Sounds like their TV contract was profitable enough ($60 mill.) that they could have given tickets away. 12k fans a game for $60-$65 each.
roki could very well end up in queens. i heard cohen is alredy planning to provide him with his own personal sushi chef in the clubhouse. and he’s planning to build a shrine for him in the Promenade.
unless of course roki just wants to be part of the tokyo dodgers with his japanese pals
also, and this is just speculation so pls dont be angry if it turns out to not be true but my sources tell me cohen is considering replacing shake shack with roki’s favorite ramen shop
Maybe he can’t stand his fellow Japanese big shots on the Dodgers. Maybe he wants to go to a team where he will be the lone Japanese sensation. Anyway, whoever he ends up with, prepare for arm injuries.
“prepare for arm injuries.”
jeez
i hope not
Hope not either but he throws 100 mph and already has lost time. His actual output over four seasons is not that substantial. May not hold up, that’s why he decided to come over here early.
Ack. I wasnt not aware of this. I didnt figure him to be anywhere near as good as Ohtani, but there’s at least one thing, his contract won’t be expensive because of his age.
He’s also not a finished product by any means. His former manager says he still has a lot to learn. Bottom line: he is no sure thing, but huge upside. Injury risk but salary is inconsequential basically.
And which team has been the best at developing starting pitchers while maintaining their health?
Nobody thinks Seattle’s a real possibility because they have a solid rotation, but they’d find room (easily).
I have read a couple times that the Phillies might trade Bohm. Why exactly would they do this? He’s coming off a career year. It’s possible the don’t sign him long term because they have the prospects Miller but why trade him now?
One potential trade partner would be Milwaukee. The Brewers will lose SS Willy Adames to free agency and are willing to trade closer Devin Williams a year before he hits free agency. The hole left by Adames would be third base if Joey Ortiz slides over to short, his normal position. So a trade of Williams and perhaps an outfielder for Bohm would help both teams, especially if the Phillies replaced Bohm with free agent Alex Bregman.
But the Phillies have a really good prospect in Miller. Why do all that when they could just sign a closer and keep Bohm until Miller is ready?
Bohm has worn out his welcome in Philly. The way he stunk up the postseason the fans are about ready to take drastic measures if he’s not traded. Philly fans are hard to placate when they lose, so I heard.
We’re not so bad.
Well I shouldn’t stereotype and make blanket statements like that. Of course B.H.Jarvis is the most dignified of Phillie fans I know.
@Ignorant Son-of-a-b,
Aw shucks!
Long-time Philly fan and that’s just not a true statement. Bohm had a terrific year and struggled after injuring his hand. He just needs to keep his emotions in check.
Phils can’t run it back. Schwarber, Harper, Turner, Realmuto are untouchable. No one is taking on Castellanos’ salary, and giving the Phillies any return for him. That leaves Stott, Marsh, Bohm as the most likely to go. They are don’t seem ready to give up on Stott (and his connection to Harper). Marsh is a decent platoon option and they are already thin in the outfield. So, that leaves Bohm as the odd man out.
Bohm to the Mariners for Matt Brash.
Mariners say no thanks
Mariners have no hitters on the infield. Seattle would be a good destination for Bohm.
I think the Angels have a decent chance, now that they’ve got Hendricks, D’Arnaud and Soler. Maybe with D’Arnaud here, they can grab Fried. That would surely guarantee that they’re serious and Roki will sign with them.
(I’m semi-tongue in cheek with this, but I can be hopeful)
Can I have some of what you’re smoking??
I knew Arte was on here somewhere.
A decent chance of chasing the A’s for 4th place in the AL West. Yes.
Difficult go see the Pirates carrying 4 catchers on the 40-man. Delay is the easy odd man out despite being best friends with Bryan Reynolds. Playing Davis in RF was less about his struggles behind the plate and more about hoping his AAA bat was ready for MLB pitching. He spent the entire 2023-2024 off-season working to hone his skills behind the plate. I question his ability to remain at catcher simply because he is injury prone. The Pirates are hestitant to have Henry Davis learn another position, such as 1B. His fate may be DH. Endy will need eased back in to playing everyday. He could start in AAA. Henry will require time and patience, but not to the extend Endy will need.
Maybe they should think about trading Davis, he’s a former #1 draft pick and the Pirates may have screwed with his head too much already. See what he can do in a new system.
It’s too early to give up on a player with the potential of Henry Davis.
I don’t give up on Davis. I also don’t see the Pirates as having a catching surplus. Bart finally had some MLB success in 2024 (after being waived by the Giants). Delay is a defensive back-up. Davis and Rodriguez should start in the minors (Davis at AAA, Rodriguez at AA or AAA). Davis has upside with the bat—he’s hit well at every level of the minors. Rodriguez so far looks like a defense first catcher (has not hit anything close to what Davis has in the minors). Look at what Rodriguez did at AAA compared to Ji-hwan Bae at the same level. Lots of work to do, especially after missing a whole year.
Bohm may be on some media upstart’s trade block, but he certainly isn’t on the Phils’. Bohm was the Phils’ most consistent hitter and top clutch hitter for most of 2024. He improved light years defensively, and was the NL All-Star 3rd baseman. The way the Phils do business, Bohm may be one of the very few left from the 2024 team who will play on a Phils championship team. In reality, the Phils have only a few trade chips they can use to actually improve the team in 2025. They are Schwarber, Realmuto and Suarez ,who will become free agents at the end of the 2025 season, and Walker who the Phils lost for all intents and purposes when, despite a solid season as a starter, he was not used in the 2023 playoffs. The Phils have ways they could compensate for each of these players if they’re traded, but they would find it very difficult to replace Bohm who has many great seasons still ahead. Trading Walker is already a done deal. Trading the popular Schwarber, Realmuto and /or Suarez will take more thought but, in light of the fact any or all of these guys might jump ship in Philly and sign as free agents with different teams after 2025, trading any or all of them may become an inevitability.
Bohm is a goner. Good bye.
It asks the question, “Do these actions constitute collusion?”
I get the Phillies wanting to shake things up, but I don’t see how Bregman or the 2 trade candidates move the needle much over Bohm, especially considering what they’d have to spend to get Bregman, Arenado’s age(Bohm had a better year as well) and Suarez’s variance.
Is there anyway to get someone like Teoscar playing time?
Arenado would have been a great acquisition for the Phils 2 or 3 years ago. Although he’s still one of baseball’s top third basemen, his best days are behind him. He or Bregman add nothing to the Phils at third base, except a lot more salary. How anyone would suggest trading last season’s all-star game starter at third base is puzzling. Bohm carried the Phils offensively and defensively for most of 2025. He was a clutch hitter with great numbers. Unfortunately, he sustained a significant hand injury toward the end of the season and, after a short time off, failed to recapture his swing and timing during the playoffs. There’s no reason to believe Bohm won’t be better in 2025 than last season. If that’s the case, the Phils will be happy they resisted the temptation to trade one of baseball’s top young stars.