Phillies 2025-2026 Hot Stove Discussion

[phillychuck]

Bichette is not a good defensive shortstop, so they wouldn’t move Turner off the position for him.

[zambonir]

Yeah Sosa and Kemp would not be good. Kemp can't field, Sosa also isn't as strong at 3B and they would both be merely adequate against RHP, which is the strong side. Of course, that's also true of Bohm.

Re: Trea. Nope. For one thing he is twice the SS Bichette is.

And if they sign Bichette they also have to trade Bohm to shed $. Him plus not re-signing JT (at the number the have in mind now) is what pays for that. But you still have to pay a new catcher too.

If they trade Bohm just to trade him you could still find a LHB (say, a Kody Clemens type) to platoon with Kemp or Sosa until Miller's up.

[Jazzhead]

I agree Turner is better defensively, although Bo did play the position for a team that almost won the World Series. But if we would primarily be signing Bichette for his bat, I hate to see it come at the expense of Bohm's own powerful righthanded bat. For a year at least, I'd love to see them both in the lineup.

So here's a modified proposal: Let Bichette play second, with Stott moving to short and Turner to left. Trade Marsh for salary relief, use Rojas as the backup outfielder and give Marchan a chance to be the regular catcher.

[zambonir]

Well, he played it for a team that eventually made the World Series. He was actually injured from September 7 until October 24 (a minor concern given his injuries and struggles in '24 and the first half of '25). Did not play in ALDS or ALCS and only played 2B and DH in the World Series.

Bohm does not have a powerful right-handed bat, or even a very good one. He is above average to good, when he's going good. Had a 102 OPS+ last year. He was the best of three disappointing RHBs who couldn't rise to the level the Phillies needed but that's not saying much (JT, at least, had other value).

Turner is just not moving off of SS. His level of play there last year is better than Stott too probably.

But in the end we are also probably never signing Bichette, so there's that.

[Philsmania]

Prior to 2025, we kept hearing that Turner wasn't a good defensive shortstop anymore.

[Matt_Winkelman]

Bryson Stott is a poor shortstop defender, Turner graded out as plus to elite last year after making improvements under Bobby Dickerson.

[phillychuck]

Prior to 2025, we kept hearing that Turner wasn't a good defensive shortstop anymore.

He improved last year beyond what would be statistical fluctuation. He’s not great, but Bichette is pretty poor at short, clearly worse than Turner.

And it’s not a trivial clubhouse issue moving someone off their position.

[Philsmania]

Crazy idea but any chance Bichette can play the OF?

[Philsmania]

I wonder how much of this Bichette flirtation is a means to telegraph to Realmuto to defecate or get off the pot.

[zambonir]

Report: Bo Bichette 'thought' to be asking for $300M free-agent deal

Source is Heyman, who is often easy to dismiss, but same guy who said Phillies were interested

[zambonir]

75 per cent. Just like Bichette is 75% using the Phillies to get another team to sign him.

[andyb]

I think any question of Turner ever moving off SS will depend more on Miller than any potential free agent like Bichette. One hopes the Phillies would not defer to the veteran if Miller were clearly better. Now both seem close to major league average in defensive ability though Turner could clearly regress in a couple of years.

I think if Bichette signs it really means that both Bohm and Stott are not here long term. We have always assumed Bohm would go, but Stott may also not be worth resigning because parts of his game could regress in his 30s too. A Stott with a 650 OPS and only average 2B defense would not be that valuable.

[allentown]

DD is a fool if he gives Bichette $300 million. The Phillies can't prosper with another long mega-contract, even though Bichette would be signing at a relatively young age. I don't think he's worth $300 million and he's not a plus SS defensively.

[jimbomill]

I don't think he's worth $300 million and he's not a plus SS defensively.

agree whole heartedly!
But , he's worth whatever the market pays

[zambonir]

The only thing I would take out of that $300 million headline, if anything, is that the Phillies won't be signing him. This a guy they are only interested in getting if it fits perfectly for them. Doesn't mean it won't still be more money or years than we'd like (for instance ESPN's $150M five-year projection, though the term is not that bad given his age). But Phillies are not going to win a bidding war for a player they don't even really need. Better to just give JT some of what he's looking for.

[mdougherty12]

Crazy idea but any chance Bichette can play the OF?

Bichette probably couldn't be worse than Kyle Schwarber out there, but he might not be much better, either. Bichette is a slow runner at this point with a below average arm. There's a good chance he'll be a full time DH (or maybe a 1B) before too long given his injury issues and declining athleticism.

[biggsphils]

Put him in left, couldn't be any worse then Kemp or Wilson, unload Marsh

[zambonir]

May as well just sign Tucker or Bellinger if we're going to trade Marsh. Or Bregman if we're going to make Bichette a 3B. Bichette is the younger/safer bat of course, but this is still really just about the short-term.

I wonder if the lockout is on their mind. Fish noted the pool of FAs isn't as deep next year when the Phillies have more money to spend, but that would be even more true if it's zero, or if the new CBA whenever they achieve it changes the market.

[zambonir]

Making this about the Phillies

MLB (non-Phillies) 2025-26 Hot Stove

(Bregman $175 five years) $35M AAV. The deal he opted out of had two years, $40 AAV left.

Do we really think Bichette is gettable if the Phillies aren't willing to spend a bunch more (both on him and the new catcher, even without Bohm)? I think Bregman is a better player, but not for very long given the age difference.

Supposedly Bellinger has turned down $30M AAV from Yankees too.

Rosenthal reports $75M on Bregman is deferred, lowering AAV to around 30-31M. I'm starting to think the Phillies can't be seen as serious players for top free agents (including Japan) if they're averse to both opt-outs and deferrals. With deferrals you still have to pay the money (but into escrow, and not all at once) so it's purely a cash-flow issue, as is the luxury tax implications of any move.

Forget Bichette or Tucker, how hard would it be to give JT more cash but a team-friendlier AAV (and that third year he probably wants) if they would use deferrals?

[andyb]

The players generally want money up front rather than deferrals so I am not sure the Phillies lack of offering them means much. And we have only had a few years of a sky high luxury tax so maybe their thinking will change as the lower AAV helps them. I know players are starting to want deferrals to claim the income in a state with income tax, so maybe that is new also (though a loophole governments should really close).