You may not have noticed, but MLB free agency is underway as you read this. Nothing of note has happened yet, but with the lockout looming just a little over three weeks away, perhaps some of the bigger free agents will be able to find homes fast.
One that will probably be waiting a while is Alec Bohm. The Phillies declined to issue Bohm a qualifying offer, all but closing the door on his tenure in Philadelphia and allowing a new team to acquire his services without suffering draft pick penalties.
It’s not a definitive end to his time with the Phillies, as a reunion can’t exactly be ruled out yet, but all signs are pointing to Bohm playing for another team in 2027 (or whenever baseball happens again).
Bohm’s free agency will be an interesting albeit not flashy case to watch. His 101 OPS+ and 107 wRC+ for his career both point to Bohm being right around a league average hitter. In a market starved for bats, particularly right-handed ones, Bohm is almost certain to find work somewhere despite his warts as a below average defender. But still, most rankings of free agents have him near the bottom of the Top 50 or outside of it altogether. His market will likely not be robust coming off of arguably the worst season of his career, but the lack of the QO anchor should help him at least somewhat.
Bohm seems destined for a short one or two-year deal with a small market team in need of a corner infielder or DH. The real question is will it be with a contending one such as the Cleveland Guardians or one far from it such as the Kansas City Royals. If it does end up being the latter, a good first half from Bohm could make him a decent trade chip come deadline season.
In any case, where will Alec Bohm be playing in 2027? What type of contract do you think he is in line for?
