The Philadelphia Phillies entered 2024 with championship expectations. They responded by winning the National League East for the first time since 2011.
However, their postseason run was cut short after the New York Mets eliminated them in the NLDS. What kind of changes are on the horizon ahead of 2025?
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski alluded to significant roster moves happening this winter as the Phillies try to bounce back and compete for their first World Series title since 2008. Philly has a couple of different ways to shake up its roster. Free agency is always an option, but it seems like the trade market is the more likely scenario right now. All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm is rumored to be available. Who could the Phillies land in a hypothetical deal?
ESPN’s Dave Schoenfield predicted “one big move” for every MLB team this winter. He came up with the following three-team trade proposal that would send 2019 NL MVP Award winner Cody Bellinger to the City of Brotherly Love: – Phillies receive: outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger – Seattle Mariners receive: third baseman Alec Bohm and second baseman Nico Hoerner – Chicago Cubs receive: right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo and catcher Harry Ford “The Phillies get a desired upgrade in the outfield and have Edmundo Sosa to play third until prospect Aidan Miller is ready, probably in 2026,” Schoenfield wrote.
“Maybe Chicago and Seattle send some cash or a lesser prospect Philadelphia’s way to cancel out some of the difference between Bellinger’s salary and Bohm’s salary. Will this happen? Probably not. Is it fun? Yes!” While this is an unlikely scenario, it shows how creative teams can get to fill perceived roster holes.
Bryce Harper is entrenched at first base, but Bellinger could take over in center field at Citizens Bank Park. He’d improve the offensive output in that area of the diamond without sacrificing much defensively. The left-handed slugger would also bring plenty of postseason experience thanks to his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
