The Phillies’ offseason is already taking shape around one of the more predictable decisions on the board: Alec Bohm is being projected to leave.
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report recently forecast that Bohm would land with the St. Louis Cardinals on a two-year, $30 million deal that includes an opt-out after 2027. For a Philadelphia team trying to get younger while still staying in the contender mix, that kind of move fits the larger picture.
Bohm’s time in Philadelphia has had the same kind of uneven rhythm that has followed him for stretches of his career. He owns an All-Star nod, but the production has never come without some turbulence.
This season was a perfect snapshot of that reality, with a rough opening stretch followed by a second half in which he became one of the club’s better hitters. Off-the-field issues were part of the story too, though his inconsistency was hardly new.
Even with the ups and downs, Bohm still brings value. A move away from Philadelphia could make sense for him, and the Cardinals would give him a chance to plug into a young roster and contribute right away. He also showed more flexibility this year, handling first base well in addition to his usual spot at third.
Last season, Bohm hit .249/.315/.383 with 15 home runs and 88 RBI. When he’s locked in, he drives in runs at a strong clip, and he has come close more than once to reaching 100 RBI in a season.
The contract projection is straightforward enough, and the opt-out gives Bohm a path to reassess depending on how things unfold and what the market looks like if baseball does or doesn’t have a salary cap.
Philadelphia’s decision not to extend a qualifying offer to Bohm also points in a clear direction. Third base may be headed for a new face, and Aidan Miller is expected to be a name in the mix. Right now, he could be the leading candidate to take over the job.
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