If Phillies sign Bo Bichette, trading these two infielders could be better than moving off Alec Bohm
The Phillies, known to be star hunters in free agency, are once again in play for a big name. There’s been plenty of buzz about the club’s interest in Bo Bichette, with The Athletic’s Matt Gelb first reporting that Philadelphia will meet with the former Blue Jays shortstop and the New York Post’s Jon Heyman noting that it will take place on Monday.
Bichette would be a significant addition to the lineup, giving the Phillies the kind of right-handed production that it will need in 2026. But signing the two-time All-Star would require some real changes in the infield. While third baseman Alec Bohm, a heavily rumored trade candidate last winter, would be the most obvious piece to move, the Phillies might be better off dealing two other infielders, Bryson Stott and Edmundo Sosa, if they need to make room on the roster and on the payroll for Bichette.
After an All-Star first half and a disappointing finish to the 2024 season, Bohm returned to the Phillies in 2025. He struggled early, missed some time due to injury and closed out on a better note to bat .287 with a .741 OPS in 120 games. The power has never fully come along for the 6-foot-5, contact-first corner infielder, and he’s due $10.2 million in his final year under team control in 2026. The Phillies could look to deal Bohm, dump that money and open up third for Bichette.
But based on the fact that Bohm has not yet been moved in the past two offseasons, it seems as if his trade value is not where the Phillies would want it to be. Stott, a year younger at 28, an elite defender at second base with high-level speed and under contract for two more seasons, would likely net a greater return from another team. The fan-favorite Sosa, a utility infielder and energy guy, could be an attractive trade chip as well.
Stott and Sosa are both helpful players, but they could be expendable if Bichette comes to Philadelphia. One starting infielder would have to go, and dealing Stott could allow Bichette to play second base, a position he manned for Toronto this past postseason. And if the lefty-hitting Stott is out of the mix, Sosa, a reserve who crushes lefties, would be less crucial, since he wouldn’t platoon with any of Bichette, Bohm or shortstop Trea Turner. With Stott set to make $5.9 million this year and Sosa in line to earn $4.4 million, the Phillies would actually shed slightly more salary by moving those two players instead of Bohm, while potentially getting more back in either one trade or two separate deals.
Trading Stott and Sosa would lock in an infield that has Bohm at third, Turner at shortstop, Bichette at second and Bryce Harper at first base to start the 2026 season. The Phillies would also have to backfill the roster with a cheaper bench infielder. The infield defense would certainly be worse off without Stott and Sosa, but it’s something the team could stomach if Turner has another positive showing at shortstop. The alignment would be a serious offensive improvement for this year and also set the club up nicely for the future.
Former first-round draft pick Aidan Miller ended last year at Triple-A and could be making a push for the major leagues soon. Since Bohm is a free agent after the 2026 season, Miller could slide into the infield for 2027. And if Bohm struggles this year and Miller thrives in the minors, the Phillies could make the aggressive move to promote the prospect during the season, an easier lever to pull with Bohm on an expiring deal.
Of course, the Phillies will need to land Bichette for these trade scenarios to be relevant, and that’s no guarantee. There will surely be other teams interested until the very end, and the Phillies could still decide to use their resources to bring back catcher J.T. Realmuto. But Bichette, a 27-year-old with a career .806 OPS, would bring a boost that would make it worth shaking things up. And trading Stott and Sosa, not Bohm, to make it work could be the best play for the short and long term in Philadelphia.