Why the Phillies could ditch Alec Bohm and target Rays star Junior Caminero

Entering the offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies must shake things up after running mostly the same roster back for three consecutive years and suffering three straight exits short of the World Series.

But Philadelphia seems more likely to make a trade than sign a big-name free agent this offseason. First baseman Bryce Harper ($27.5M in 2026, per Spotrac), SS Trea Turner ($27.3M) and RHPs Zack Wheeler ($42M) and Aaron Nola ($24.6M) take up a huge amount of the payroll, so the Phillies may seek cost-effective options in the trade market. 

Could 22-year-old Tampa Bay third baseman Junior Caminero be an option for the Phillies? 

Phillies are likely to trade All-Star Alec Bohm this offseason

For the past couple of offseasons, Philadelphia has been rumored to be in the market to trade 2024 All-Star third baseman Bohm, who is coming off a down power season (11 HR, 49 RBI). With one year left on his deal before he becomes a free agent, Bohm probably will be jettisoned by the Phillies, who are projected by Spotrac to offer him $10.25M in arbitration. Philadelphia could better use that money to re-sign designated hitter Kyle Schwarber or catcher J.T. Realmuto. 

Bohm batted .287 in 120 games last season but could benefit from a change of scenery to get him back on track to where he was in 2024 (97 RBI and 44 doubles).

Phillies, Rays could make a deal 

With Bohm unlikely to be on the Opening Day roster, Philadelphia probably will find another option. Pending free agent Alex Bregman (18 HR, .273 BA) may not return to the Boston Red Sox. He's a fit for the Phillies, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. 

But Bregman would command a high salary, as would Seattle's Eugenio Suárez, who also is a pending free agent. Feinsand listed the Angels, Mariners and Pirates as fits for the 34-year-old, who had 49 homers and a .228 batting average last season.

Debuting at 19 in 2023, Caminero was an injury replacement All-Star in 2025 and would fit in perfectly with the Phillies. He could be the cleanup hitter the team has lacked and provide needed protection for Harper. 

Caminero — who is set to make $820,000 in 2026, according to Spotrac — has plenty of power (45 HR, sixth in big leagues in 2025) and hit for a decent average, .264, last season. 

“There's no denying his talent, and what he can cover in and off the plate away is just amazing to me," Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Caminero, according to Adam Berry of MLB.com.

Acquiring Caminero would likely cost the Phillies one or two of their top prospects and a big-league player. The Phillies have the prospect capital and major league talent to get a deal like this done — if they’re willing to pull the trigger.