One of the key early storylines for the Philadelphia Phillies this season has been the struggles of third baseman Alec Bohm.
After spending much of the offseason in trade rumors, Bohm now may be replaced altogether. According to Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report, the Phillies are seen as the ideal destination for St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado.
Arenado, a ten-time Gold Glove winner, would be a major upgrade at third base. The 34-year-old still has three years remaining on his contract—$21 million in 2025, $16 million in 2026, and $15 million in 2027.
While he’s had a couple of down years recently, Arenado is off to a strong start in 2025. Through his first 20 games, he has 21 hits, 11 runs scored, six doubles, two homers, and 10 RBIs, with a .288 batting average and a solid .847 OPS. Notably, he’s struck out just five times while drawing 12 walks.
In contrast, Bohm has struggled at the plate. In 21 games, he’s struck out 16 times, walked only once, and posted a poor .472 OPS. His early-season WAR sits at -1.1, while Arenado has a +0.9 WAR.
Although Arenado has a full no-trade clause, he reportedly expressed willingness to waive it for a few teams, including Philadelphia. With the Cardinals off to a rough start, they might look to capitalize on Arenado’s rebound in value and deal him while his stock is high.
Given Bohm’s underperformance, Bleacher Report suggests the Phillies may need to make a bold move to stabilize third base. Arenado would offer a clear defensive and offensive upgrade, and although trading for him would require a significant package, the Phillies are firmly in win-now mode and can’t afford to let third base continue to drag down their lineup.
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