Sep 1, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Mason Miller (19) pitches against the Texas Rangers during the tenth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Jerome Miron
If Alec Bohm returns to the Phillies in 2025, the best way for the organization to heal any wounds after an offseason full of trade rumors might be to point for the types of players they asked for in return for the All-Star third baseman.
The Oakland Sacramento Las Vegas Athletics — they literally are just called the Athletics right now — reportedly had some interest in Bohm. But according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the A's and Phillies didn't get much traction on talks for Bohm:
"The Philadelphia Phillies’ Alec Bohm is another trade candidate, but when the A’s inquired about him, the Phillies asked for All-Star reliever Mason Miller. That ended the conversation, an A’s source said."
In his first full MLB season, Miller was an All-Star, electrifying the sport with a fastball that regularly hit triple digits. He recorded 28 saves for the A's in 2024, while posting a 2.49 ERA over 44 games. He definitely carries some injury risk, but the 26-year-old can't become a free agent until after the 2029 season.
Particularly since the A's are at least posturing that they are trying until there are shovels in the ground in Las Vegas, they would have to be overwhelmed to trade Miller. There's value with Bohm, but he also has flaws too. Even with two years of control before free agency, Bohm isn't netting you one of the most promising relievers in baseball.
Phillies Asked Mariners For George Kirby or Logan Gilbert For Alec Bohm, per @A_Jude
Analysis at @OnPattison: https://t.co/hq8IXthLq6
Earlier this month, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reported that the Phillies opened Bohm conversations with the Mariners by asking for one of their two aces, George Kirby or Logan Gilbert. That's probably an even more unrealistic asking price.
Perhaps the Phillies are — as manager Rob Thomson suggested this week — willing to listen on Bohm more than they are directly shopping him. Some of that's semantics, because if a team called on Bryce Harper or Zack Wheeler, the Phillies would hang up. But some of the reported asks that the Phillies have made for Bohm lead you to believe president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski may only trade him if he's overwhelmed.
Then again, there's still plenty of time left in the offseason. The Phillies could lower the price on Bohm, because it's fair to wonder how he'll respond to his name being out there all winter if he's back in red pinstripes next year. So far, though, the price tag on Bohm seems exorbitant, to say the least.
