Phillies Face An Alec Bohm Question Fans Wont Like

Deck: As speculation grows around Alec Bohm's next move in free agency, the Mets are eyeing him to bolster their roster and address their first base struggles.

The Mets may end up shopping in a familiar aisle this offseason, with Alec Bohm suddenly emerging as a possible fit in New York.

Bohm’s future in Philadelphia is unsettled after the Phillies’ season ended with a Wild Card-round loss to the Atlanta Braves. The club now faces a roster reset of sorts, and Bohm is one of the bigger names hanging in the balance.

“He should be seen as a desirable target in free agency. However, whether or not he will be back with the Phillies remains to be seen. This is a team that is trying to get a little bit younger, and handing out another potential long-term deal to a veteran might not be what they want to do,” SI’s Nick Ziegler wrote.

That uncertainty has only grown. Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly put it even more plainly:

“It doesn’t sound like Alec Bohm is especially likely to return to the Phillies,” Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly wrote.

Bohm’s appeal is straightforward: he puts the ball in play, and he has shown enough production to draw interest. In 2024, he hit .249/.315/.383 with 15 home runs and 88 RBI after a rough start to the year. The rebound has made him a name to watch on the open market.

One of the teams that could make a run at him is New York. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand connected Bohm to the Mets, pointing out both the club’s weakness at first base and the awkward fit of some other money already on the books.

“The Mets’ production at first base (.667 OPS) was third worst in the Majors, but Jorge Polanco is signed for $20 million next season. Their .684 OPS at third base ranked 19th in the Majors, but with Bo Bichette signed for $42 million in 2027 (with another $42 million player option for ‘28), the hot corner wouldn’t appear to be available. Owner Steve Cohen could look past the money owed to Polanco if he believes Bohm is a good fit for the Mets, who are coming off of two straight seasons without reaching the postseason,” Feinsand wrote.

That Polanco situation hasn’t worked out the way the Mets likely envisioned, and it could force them to get creative. He could still be used at designated hitter or second base, which would leave room elsewhere for Bohm.

For New York, the attraction is obvious: Bohm would add another contact-oriented bat and give the lineup another option. For Philadelphia, it means a rival may be preparing to take one of its All-Stars off the board.

In Other News...

Mets Look Ready To Move On From Mark Vientos For Good

Mark Vientos fit with the Mets has grown more uncertain, and the market around him may be starting to form accordingly. If New York does decide to move on, there should at least be some interest from clubs looking for a low-cost bat who can help at first base, designated hitter, or in specific matchup spots against left-handed pitching.

The Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres and Cleveland Guardians all stand out as possible landing spots because each has a need that Vientos could help address. None of that means a deal is close or even inevitable, but it does show how quickly a player can go from being part of the conversation in Queens to becoming a fit for another team trying to patch a lineup hole. [Read more 🡒]

Mets Reunion Could Shape The Next Step For Several Key Bats

A familiar name is back in the mix for the Mets as they look to reshape their hitting department. The club is scheduled to meet with Kevin Long, who was recently dismissed by the Phillies after five seasons and previously helped guide New Yorks lineup during its 2015 World Series run, a stretch that still carries weight inside the organization.

The timing matters because the Mets are moving on from director of hitting Jeff Albert after the regular season, leaving room for a new voice to help steer the offense. Any decision on Long would be watched closely by players whose development is front and center, including Brett Baty, A.J. Ewing and Jared Young, since the next hire could have a real say in how their bats are shaped going forward. [Read more 🡒]

Mets Took A Big Center Field Gamble And Fans Can Finally Judge It

When the Mets made the move for Luis Robert Jr. to handle center field and add some offense, it looked like a straightforward bet on a proven talent with upside. Instead, back issues kept Robert on the Injured List for a significant stretch, and in that time A.J. Ewing did enough to force his way into the picture as the everyday center fielder. For a team that has spent plenty of time searching for stability in the middle of the outfield, the position quickly shifted from being Roberts job to being a real competition.

The decision point arrived when Robert came back and the Mets chose to prioritize Ewings development rather than keep Robert around on his $20 million option. Robert was then claimed off waivers by the Orioles, closing the book on a gamble that was supposed to solve center field but ended up changing hands before the Mets could fully cash it in. The payoff, at least from New Yorks perspective, is now in how Ewing holds up after being thrown into the role and whether the clubs patience with him proves smarter than the original fit it once chased. [Read more 🡒]