In an offseason that’s been full of trade rumors and speculation regarding the future of Alec Bohm, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski says he hasn’t spoken to his third baseman. But that’s nothing out of the ordinary.
“I have not, and I normally do not talk to players [in the offseason]. In fact, I don’t think I ever have in a situation like that in my career,” Dombrowski said. “The manager is the one who traditionally talks to the players throughout the wintertime to stay in touch with them, because that’s their direct reporting person.”
During the MLB Winter Meetings earlier this month, Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that he had talked to Bohm on the phone amid trade buzz:
Still, Bohm’s name has hardly died down on the rumor mill. Earlier this week, Ken Rosenthal said in an appearance on “Foul Territory” that “I would expect he will not be on the Phillies by the start of the season” when referring to Bohm. Rosenthal isn’t someone who just throws stuff up against the wall, nor is he the only person in the know who continues to report on the possibility of a Bohm trade this offseason as real.
With that said, there’s the possibility that the Phillies never receive an offer for Bohm — who has two remaining years before free agency — that gets them to part with him. Alex Bregman remains a free agent, and Nolan Arenado is a trade candidate that the St. Louis Cardinals appear motivated to move. It may be that the music stops and Bregman and Arenado fill the remaining seats of teams who are looking for a third basemen. Even if the Phillies find what they deem to be a fair trade for Bohm, they are also going to have to have a plan for how they pivot at third base, assuming it doesn’t come in return for Bohm. Dombrowski acknowledged Friday that the Phillies are bumping up against the third luxury tax surcharge, which comes with a 110% tax on all overages beyond $301 million. So if you were envisioning a trade of Bohm to clear the way for a Bregman signing, don’t count on it.
The question then becomes if the Phillies don’t trade Bohm, can they put the toothpaste back in the tube? Or does Dombrowski worry about the effect that an offseason of uncertainty could have on the 28-year-old?
“No, I’m not worried about it,” Dombrowski said. “There’s a lot of rumors. He’s been working hard, he continues to do so. Topper felt very comfortable with the conversations. In many ways, it’s probably a tribute more to him that he’s a good player that his name has come up.
“We continue to like him a great deal,” Dombrowski added. “I think he’s going to come out and have a tremendous season. He’s driven in 97 runs the last two years in a row, and he’s improved at third base. And I think he’s only gonna get better and better. So no, I’m not worried about that.”
As we predicted might happen when Rosenthal reported last weekend that the A’s balked at the idea of sending All-Star reliever Mason Miller back for Bohm, the Phillies seem to be trying to turn Bohm’s name being on the trade market all offseason into a positive, with Dombrowski saying “it’s probably a tribute more to him.”
That — and pointing to some of the names the Phillies have reportedly asked for in return for Bohm — is probably the best strategy for the team if Bohm indeed ends up back. Make him think that you were only willing to trade him if it got you a legitimate star in return.
Of course, continuing to speak glowingly about Bohm is also something you would do if you still thought you might be talking to opposing executives about fair trade value in the coming weeks.
