Potential trade target: Alec Bohm
The All-Star third baseman could be on the move.
The Royals have made offense a top priority this off-season, and while their main target is a leadoff hitter that can get on base, GM J.J. Picollo has also said he would like another middle-of-the-order bat that can lengthen the lineup.
This year’s free agent class is a bit thin, with numerous buyers which should escalate prices. That could leave the trade market as a more appealing way to improve the ballclub. One player that could be available, according to reporting from ESPN’s Jeff Passan, is Phillies All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm.
Alec Bohm, third baseman: Coming off a career-best season, the 28-year-old Bohm nonetheless finds himself on the trade block. While he was a well-above-average hitter — .280/.332/.448 with 61 extra-base hits — his first-half OPS was nearly 150 points higher than in the second half, and the Phillies are looking to shake up their team after a disappointing postseason ouster by the Mets.
Bohm is an Omaha native who excelled at Wichita State before the Phillies made him the third overall pick in the 2018 draft. His OPS+ has improved in each of his four full seasons, and this year he tied a career-high with 97 RBI and finished second in the National League with 44 doubles. His success was not a product of tiny Citizens Bank Ballpark - he actually hit better on the road with a line of .303/.345/.463.
Bohm has a below-average walk rate of just 6.6 percent this year, but he is difficult to strike out. His 15.7 percent strikeout rate over the past three seasons combined is among the 30 lowest rates in baseball and his 84.6 percent contact rate this year was 20th-best among all hitters. In other words, he seems like a hitter that would thrive in Kauffman Stadium, putting the ball in play and utilizing the spacious outfield and deep alleys.
Defensively, Bohm had some problems early on in his career, but improved significantly this year. He was 11th among all third basemans in Outs Above Average, just behind Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia. Overall, his 3.5 fWAR was eighth among all third basemen.
The right-handed hitter did have a second-half swoon that is a bit concerning - he hit .251/.299/.382 after his appearance in the Home Run Derby. He missed a few weeks in September with a wrist injury, hitting just .170 after returning, with a dismal 1-for-13 performance in the NLDS in which he was benched for Game 2.
Bohm has two more years of club control left before he becomes eligible for free agency after the 2026 season. The 28-year-old is projected to make $8.1 million through arbitration next year.
The Royals are reportedly willing to part with pitchers like Alec Marsh and Kris Bubic in order to land a bat. The Phillies could certainly use an upgrade at fifth starter over expensive free agent Taijuan Walker. They may also need a replacement for Bohm at third - internal options would include Edmundo Sosa, Weston Wilson, or Koby Clemens. Would a deal of Kris Bubic and Maikel Garcia for Alec Bohm work for both teams?
Alternatively, the Royals could look to deal Brady Singer, who is in a similar position to Bohm, with two years left before free agency. For a team looking to contend like the Phillies, Singer would be an attractive upgrade for their rotation. However, Picollo has indicated Singer “is a lock in our rotation.”
The Royals are in a good position this off-season with some money to spend, assets to trade, and only a few obvious holes to fill. Bohm could be a terrific addition, but the Royals may be reluctant to deal from their pitching surplus.