The Philadelphia Phillies extended their losing streak to nine games after being swept by the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. Now sitting at 8-17, the team’s season has gone drastically off course, and adjustments are clearly necessary.
Though there were high hopes for the Phillies heading into the season, they have so far failed to meet expectations. With an 8-17 record, they find themselves at the bottom of the National League East and have been among the league’s worst-performing teams.
Their poor run differential points to numerous issues, but the offense has been the primary culprit, mired in struggles. Aside from a few bright spots, the lineup has underperformed, particularly during the losing streak.
As the Phillies look to reverse their fortunes, they’ve already moved on from struggling pitcher Taijuan Walker. A similar shake-up in the batting order could now be a logical next step.
One player who has struggled significantly is third baseman Alec Bohm. Amid a legal financial dispute with his parents, his performance at the plate has further hurt the team.
Why Bohm Belongs on the Trade Block
While the entire Phillies offense is underperforming, a closer look reveals particular difficulties against left-handed pitching—and it has been the right-handed hitters, including Bohm, who have failed to deliver.
Bohm is a former All-Star whom Philadelphia has counted on as a key run producer. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case this year. His inconsistencies over extended periods in recent seasons have caused him to fall somewhat out of favor.
So far this season, he’s off to a terrible start, batting just .151/.227/.209 with one home run and 11 RBIs. These numbers are far from impressive, making Bohm a major reason for the offense’s struggles.
If the Phillies were to trade him, they likely wouldn’t receive much in return given his current production and the fact that he’ll be a free agent after the season. Still, with the team floundering, moving on and committing to another option makes sense. Top prospect Aidan Miller would be a strong replacement once he’s healthy, and Edmundo Sosa could fill in temporarily.
Ultimately, Bohm’s production isn’t meeting the team’s needs, and parting ways is a sensible move for Philadelphia.
