Phillies Explore Trade Options as They Aim to Reshape Roster

The Philadelphia Phillies are actively exploring trade options to reshape their roster for the 2025 season. Last week, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reported that the Phillies were considering trading outfielder Nick Castellanos, infielder Alec Bohm, prospect Justin Crawford, or left-hander Ranger Suárez. This week, Bob Nightengale of USA Today confirmed that Alec Bohm is being made available, and if traded, the Phillies are expected to pursue free agents Alex Bregman or Willy Adames.

Limited Options for Roster Changes
The Phillies face constraints in making roster changes, as many of their current position players are expensive veterans who are firmly established due to their performance or contracts. Bohm, however, remains in his arbitration years and is slated for free agency after the 2026 season. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects Bohm’s salary for next year at $8.1 million, with another raise due for 2026.

Bohm’s Performance and Potential Upgrades
While Bohm’s performance has been solid, it hasn’t reached star levels. He has a career batting line of .277/.327/.416, translating to a 103 wRC+, indicating he’s been 3% better than the league-average hitter. In 2024, he posted a 115 wRC+, though this was skewed by a strong first half (128 wRC+) and a weaker second half (90 wRC+). Additionally, he has a career 135 wRC+ against lefties but just 91 wRC+ against righties. Defensively, Bohm has shown improvement, moving from below average to league average in 2024 according to Defensive Runs Saved.

In contrast, Bregman and Adames represent potential upgrades. Bregman has hit .272/.366/.483 in his career with a 135 wRC+ and is a strong defender at third base. Adames, with a career line of .248/.322/.444 and a 109 wRC+, is known for his strong defense at shortstop and is open to playing other infield positions.

Financial Considerations
Bohm’s projected modest salary is significantly lower than what Bregman or Adames might command. MLBTR projects Bregman to earn $182 million and Adames $160 million over six years, with average annual values around $26-27 million.

The Phillies’ payroll is already projected to increase. RosterResource estimates a payroll of $263 million for next year, $15 million higher than 2024. Their competitive balance tax (CBT) number is projected at $282 million, above the third tier of penalization. As a third-time CBT payor, any additional spending up to $301 million would incur a 95% tax, and beyond that, a 110% tax rate.

Potential Trade Moves
To balance the financial impact, the Phillies have explored using Bohm and Crawford to acquire Garrett Crochet from the White Sox. Crochet had a breakout season in 2024 with a 3.58 ERA, 35.1% strikeout rate, and 5.5% walk rate over 146 innings. His performance and affordable $2.9 million projected salary make him an attractive trade target.

​If the Phillies can use Bohm to secure a cost-effective ace like Crochet, potentially offloading Taijuan Walker’s $36 million contract, they could then use the savings to sign a star like Bregman or Adames.