On Friday, the free agent market saw another major move as third baseman agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal with the Houston Astros, pending a physical.
This signing appears to signal the Astros are moving on from re-signing Alex Bregman. A two-time All-Star and the second overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft out of LSU, Bregman has been a cornerstone for Houston, playing in the postseason every year over the last eight seasons.
So, where might Bregman end up?
Jeff Passan of ESPN.com suggested that a surprising contender in the National League East could enter the mix. “The Phillies are also lurking,” Passan noted, “but only if they were to move Bohm.”
However, Passan added that Philadelphia remains firm in its stance that Alec Bohm isn’t on the trading block, despite their desire to shake up the roster.
Earlier reports from Bob Nightengale of USA Today in November indicated the Phillies had been open to offers for Bohm, a 2024 All-Star, and were interested in both Bregman and Willy Adames as potential replacements.
The trade market for Bohm has been relatively quiet, though. Both the Angels and Mariners reportedly showed interest in December, but as of now, Philadelphia seems to be keeping tabs on Bregman in case a deal for Bohm becomes feasible.
Meanwhile, negotiations between the Astros and Bregman have reportedly stalled, with the two sides approximately $44 million apart.
Since his debut in 2016, Bregman has tallied 39.6 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), per Baseball Reference, with a career slash line of .272/.366/.483. He’s earned two All-Star selections, a Silver Slugger Award, and most recently, his first Gold Glove Award. In the postseason, he’s slashed .238/.346/.443 across 99 games, contributing significantly to the Astros’ historic stretch of success.
As for Bohm, the 28-year-old third baseman had a strong 2024 season, hitting .280 with a .332 on-base percentage and a .448 slugging percentage in 143 games. He hit 15 home runs and drove in 97 runs for the second consecutive year.
The Phillies have reached the postseason for three consecutive seasons, including a World Series appearance in 2022.
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