Would an Alec Bohm Trade Make Sense for Pirates?
p/c: Emilee Chinn
Much like 2024, this year was another putrid season for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ offense, as they finished dead last in team OPS (.655), home runs (117), and runs scored (583).
As you would expect, the news of Ben Cherington being retained as Pirates general manager was met with extreme negativity.
Cherington will have quite a few holes to fill on offense. One of those needs is at third base.
The Pirates made one of the more surprising moves at the trade deadline - dealing Ke’Bryan Hayes to the Cincinnati Reds. The main return was infielder Sammy Stafura, who is currently Pittsburgh’s seventh ranked prospect.
A month after acquiring Cam Devanney from the Kansas City Royals, in a swap for Adam Frazier, Devanney struggled mightily at third base; hitting just .139, while striking out more than half the time at 55.3%.
Reports this offseason are that the Philadelphia Phillies plan on putting Alec Bohm on the trade block. Given the Pirates’ obvious need for a proven player at the hot corner, would Bohm be a potential fit?
Bohm is going into his last year of arbitration, and is projected to make $10.3 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
Here are the Baseball Savant numbers for Bohm offensively this season.
For much of his big league career, Bohm has displayed solid, bat-to-ball skills, and 2025 was no different, as he exhibited terrific contact, along with a lack of swing & miss, and a low strikeout percentage.
Although Bohm finished ‘25 with a bWAR of 1.5, he’s a year removed from an All-Star season (3.0 bWAR).
Bohm’s defense at third base has improved significantly, since debuting for the Phillies in 2020.
Defensive Runs Saved by year:
2020: -7
2021: -12
2022: -17
2023: -9
2024: 0
2025: -3
In his first four seasons, Bohm was simply a terrible defensive third baseman, but over the last two seasons, he’s managed to turn into a borderline average defender.
On the free agent market, the Pirates wouldn’t be able to afford Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suarez; both of whom are the top two third basemen. Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, who was recently posted by the Yakult Swallows, would likely sign with a big market club. With the Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamato connection, the Dodgers would mostly likely be the favorites to land Murakami. Yoán Moncada is a name that Pittsburgh could look to sign to an affordable, one-year deal. However, Moncada has dealt with injuries in recent years. Based on what’s realistic, a Bohm trade would seem to make a lot of sense for the Pirates.
As for what Cherington would have to give up for Bohm, it likely isn’t going to be anything real significant, because of his team control, or lack thereof. Perhaps a package that includes shortstop Yordany De Los Santos (Pirates #14 prospect) and pitcher Wilber Dotel (#28 prospect) to the Phillies.
I’m fine with trading for Bohm - provided that he isn’t the Pirates’ “big splash” of the offseason. They would still need to bring in a couple more bats who are just as good.