Clearwater, Florida Since Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh spend eight months of the year together, they often arrange a trip to see one another during the four months that separate them. However, Marsh stated that this offseason was solely focused on business. Bohm alternated between Texas and Florida throughout the winter. Marsh was in Arizona. Marsh’s arrival to camp on Thursday morning was the first time they had seen one another.
As spring training gets underway, Bohm and the Phillies have relied on one word: business.
The Phillies had to be flexible this summer when teams asked about Bohm in trade negotiations because, as Dave Dombrowski has stated, it’s a business. (As many major-league sources told The Athletic during the summer, the Phillies will not admit that they started some of those discussions.) Bohm stated on Thursday that he has no control over it because it’s a company. The Phillies benching Bohm in Game 2 of the National League Division Series and manager Rob Thomson pointing to the need for more energy in the lineup may have irritated him.
On the trade market, the Phillies never found Bohm for what they thought was a fair price, and it made no sense to deal him if doing so would make the 2025 squad worse. Thus, on Thursday, Marsh grinned as he looked at Bohm’s locker, which was now in a prominent corner.
Marsh, who stays with Bohm throughout the season, added, “You know, we all get the business side of it.” “It can’t be all sunshine and butterflies and everyone getting what they want.” as it isn’t feasible. However, it’s better to see him eight lockers over than to be at a different club. I’m quite happy that he’s still here, both for myself and the team.
In a nine-minute interview with reporters, Bohm largely shrugged.
Bohm remarked, “I feel like everyone in here appreciates me.” “So I’m not too concerned about whatever is going around.”
To be clear, Bohm’s attitude in the latter part of last season caused annoyance among the Phillies. Bohm frequently wears his failures since he is quite critical of himself. He has strong feelings. That may occasionally show up negatively; some coaches and players thought Bohm carried a poor at-bat into the next one and the one after that. Thomson had good reason to be concerned about it, which is why he made the uncommon decision to sit a regular during the postseason.
Because they didn’t have many ways to “shake up” a great club and thought Bohm was a sought-after asset—a run-producing third baseman approaching his prime—the Phillies looked into a trade for him. At the club’s organizational meetings last October, team executives went into great depth about Bohm. For him, they saw possible fits around the league. According to insiders, they worked with a few of those teams in November and December. The Phillies switched to alternate offseason plans once it became apparent that they valued Bohm more than others.
Bohm’s agent, Scott Boras, met with Dombrowski, the club’s president of baseball operations, during the Winter Meetings in Dallas in December. The Phillies were not shopping for Bohm, Dombrowski informed Boras. Thomson phoned Bohm at that time to deliver a similar message.
“That definitely helped to calm my mind,” Bohm remarked. “Instead of only speculating, perhaps a little, or whatever. He did well to reach out and defuse the situation. Let’s proceed and prepare for this year.
This means that Bohm, who is 28 years old, is a simple target. Since he is not bound by a costly, long-term contract, a trade is reasonable. There were others in the lineup who suffered as, if not more. After dominating the Phillies for the first two months of the season and earning a spot on his first All-Star squad, Bohm’s thrilling Home Run Derby performance gave him a national stage. After July 1 he hit.253/.306/.392. It was insufficient. He is aware of that.
Even so, Bohm will strike in the thick of a championship contender’s potent lineup.
Marsh remarked, “I think people forget how much of a part he is of this team.” Not us. I’m only stating that occasionally the world could forget it. That guy performed an absolutely fantastic job whenever there was a runner in scoring position. And it’s really difficult to do. It’s challenging, even with the runner on third and no outs. Last year, he completed it with remarkable consistency. He performed admirably at third base.
Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh celebrate a victory. (Photo by Imagn Images/Eric Hartline)
Bohm may be concerned about his prospects in Philadelphia. With another rise expected in 2026 for his final year of salary arbitration, he will earn $7.7 million this season. After that, he is a free agent. Aidan Miller, who will start at shortstop this season but has the potential to go to third base, has a bright future for the Phillies. The Phillies may spend more money on other positions.
It’s not uncommon for Dombrowski to have Thomson handle the most difficult aspects of this circumstance. To give Bohm a sense of belonging, the front office will rely on coaches and teammates.
“He seems to be in a very positive frame of mind,” Dombrowski remarked. “Our employees informed me that he appears to be excellent. He has put forth a lot of effort. He is in excellent health. My discussions with our employees have led me to believe that he is extremely at ease.
Thomson said, “They said he is so positive.” He looks like a different person. He has once again matured.
Bohm has endured more hardship than trade speculations; at one point, the Phillies had almost concluded that Bohm was no longer their third baseman. In 2021, he was relegated to Triple A. The next spring, they shopped him. On Opening Day 2022, they started Bryson Stott at third base instead of Bohm. He has put a lot of effort into becoming a reliable, daily player. Bohm has never concealed his dissatisfaction along the road.
Bohm remarked, “I suppose I’ve been known to do some bad things at the wrong time.” However, it’s a natural aspect of maturing. improving as a teammate and player.
It is not harmful to be emotional. What other ways could he be able to channel it?
“Yes,” Bohm remarked, “I mean, I think it’s going to be hard to find a way to care less.” “Well, I suppose you simply need to mature a bit. Simply be more intelligent.
The Phillies have only ever desired that. It is already mid-February, so everyone is encouraged. Even though they attempted to move Bohm a few months ago, they are aware of how important he is to this team. At his Houston offseason gym, Bohm received a ton of text messages from pals and inquiries about the trade negotiations. He claimed that he never once believed he would be moved. He did wonder, though.
Bohm shrugged for the rest. only a consequence of conducting business. How did this offseason actually go?
“Very fast,” Bohm said. “I didn’t actually accomplish anything. Home, gym. As usual.
Leave a Reply