MLB Insider Suggests Phillies Should Sign Third Baseman

MLB insider for ESPN, Jeff Passan, suggests the Philadelphia Phillies sign free agent infielder Alex Bregman. This move would make a lot of sense for the Phillies. Bregman is a free agent for the second consecutive offseason. Additionally, just like last offseason, the Phillies are a commonly mentioned landing spot for Bregman. This season with the Boston Red Sox, Bregman had a .273/.360/.462 line with 18 home runs and 62 RBI in 114 games. Bregman recorded a 125 wRC+ and a .288 BABIP this year. To add, Bregman made the AL All-Star team. Bregman also posted an outstanding 0.73 BB/K rate. The 2026 season will be Bregman’s age-32 season. Additionally, Passan wrote that Bregman has all of the traits the Phillies need at the position.

Part of why Bregman is a fit for the Phillies is that the team is expected to trade infielder Alec Bohm this offseason. Bohm was also considered a trade candidate last offseason but was not moved. Trading Bohm opens up third base. If Bregman is not signed, Edmundo Sosa and Otto Kemp are in line to take over at that position. However, Aidan Miller is also expected to be considered. Miller has not played many games above Double-A, though. Sosa has the most major league experience at third base among those three. Miller has exclusively played shortstop and designated hitter in the minor leagues. Furthermore, Kemp has made the bulk of his major league appearances at third base. Sosa, Kemp, and Miller are all right-handed batters.

Insider Suggests The Phillies Need To Sign An Infielder

Need For A Handed Bat To Protect the Star Player

For a few years, the Phillies have lacked a right-handed bat that can successfully protect Bryce Harper in the lineup. Harper has seen a cast of characters bat behind him the last few seasons. Bohm, Nick Castellanos, J.T. Realmuto, and Kyle Schwarber have all had their turns batting cleanup. Bregman signing with the Phillies would solidify that part of the lineup. Schwarber re-signing with the Phillies is also essential to this equation. A top four of Trea Turner, Schwarber, Harper, and Bregman would be an upgrade. Bohm and Castellanos have struggled mightily hitting behind Harper in the postseason. This has been a contributor to the Phillies’ current position. Passan is not the lone insider who suggests the Phillies need help there.

Potential Alternatives That Have Been Floated

There will be many suitors for Bregman, which could lead the Phillies in a different direction. One scenario that the Phillies should not consider is a trade for St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. However, according to a report from Jon Paul Morosi of MLB Network, free agent infielder Bo Bichette could move to second base or third base from shortstop. Morosi mentions the Phillies, along with two other teams that already have long-term shortstops, as teams that could sign Bichette and have him move to another position. Bichette did play second base during the Toronto Blue Jays’ appearance in the World Series. That being said, the priority should be signing Bregman. Passan, an insider, suggests the Phillies should make the move, and it makes sense why.