The Phillies face a crucial decision regarding Alec Bohm, their homegrown third baseman, who still has two years of team control. After a disappointing NLDS loss to the Mets, the team is evaluating who should stay and who should go after a 95-win season. Changes are needed, especially in the bullpen, lineup consistency, and defense. One area of focus is Bohm, who struggled during the postseason.
Why Bohm should stay:
Bohm, a first-round pick, has mostly delivered offensively in 2024. Among 389 National League hitters, he ranked 14th in batting average (.280), 27th in on-base percentage (.332), 41st in WAR (3.0), 2nd in doubles (44), and 9th in RBIs (97). He also posted a career-best 117 OPS+, though his performance dipped after a late-season hand injury. While his power numbers have yet to meet expectations—he hit only 15 home runs—he remains a solid hitter and is set to earn a relatively affordable $8 million through arbitration. With one more year of team control in 2026, Bohm remains cost-effective, which might be reason enough to keep him. The Phillies could look to their top prospect Aidan Miller in the future, but until then, Bohm remains a valuable piece.
Alec Bohm
Why Bohm should go:
Bohm’s postseason performance was underwhelming—going just 1-for-13—along with his struggles late in the season, lowering his stock with both the team and fans. His career postseason average of .214 in 34 games isn’t impressive. Additionally, Bohm’s defense has long been a weakness. His -1 runs above average and 14 errors in 2024 place him among the lower-tier defensive third basemen. While his defense did improve from 2023, it still falls short of what’s needed. The Phillies may consider whether they can upgrade at third base, either through trade or by pursuing a high-profile free agent like Alex Bregman. Bohm’s affordable contract also makes him a potential trade asset, possibly helping the Phillies retool their roster.
Ultimately, the Phillies need to weigh Bohm’s offensive contributions—2nd in doubles, .280 average, 97 RBIs, and his first All-Star appearance—against his defensive shortcomings and postseason struggles when deciding his future.
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