Phillies’ Alec Bohm Offers 5-Word Response On Mets’ Bo Bichette Report

The Philadelphia Phillies will be returning with mostly the same group next season, even after a second straight playoff disappointment.

Rather than bring in a collection of new talent, the Phillies’ biggest offseason moves were to re-sign Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto. But the team was pretty close to replacing one of its most notorious playoff underperformers with a superstar infielder who ended up going to the rival New York Mets instead.

“A two-time All-Star shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays, Bichette agreed … with the Mets to a $126 million, three-year contract that left the Phillies reeling,” the Associated Press reported. “Philadelphia believed Bichette was on the brink of joining a potent lineup that already included Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Trea Turner.”

ForbesPadres’ Former Catcher With Unique Dodgers History, ‘Field Of Dreams’ Role DiesBy Peter Chawaga

Philadelphia Phillies Alec Bohm Sends ‘Dumb’ Message After Bo Bichette Reports

While most of those in Philadelphia would have been happy to have Bichette join the team, the addition would have required a trade to move long-time third baseman Alec Bohm out of town. And as reports of the Phillies’ interest in replacing him with Bichette swirled, Bohm couldn’t help but catch wind of them.

“We’re not dumb as players,” Bohm told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal regarding the reports that his team was trying to replace him with Bichette. “You start to add things up.”

Bohm is no stranger to trade rumors. He has been at the center of them for two straight winters, despite an All-Star campaign at age 27 in 2024 and serving as one of Bryce Harper’s primary lineup protectors.

In the postseason after his All-Star campaign, Bohm was benched as a brutal cold streak at the plate pushed him to display some poor body language. He’s been a primary target of trade speculation since then and that seemed to have prepared him for the offseason reports regarding Bichette.

“I don’t stew over it,” Bohm responded, per Rosenthal.

ForbesDodgers’ First-Round Pick Sends Kyle Tucker Message As Concerns MountBy Peter Chawaga

Philadelphia Phillies’ Alec Bohm Reveals Outlook On Looming Free Agency

One way or the other, though, the third baseman’s time with the Phillies could be heading to a close. Even if the team chooses to hang onto him through the next trade deadline, he is set to reach free agency next winter. Depending on how far the Phillies’ season goes, the team could be content for Bohm to take a new contract elsewhere.

Going into this pivotal campaign, Bohm is focused on controlling what he can, despite another offseason of speculation.

“A 162-game season is a long time. I don’t want to spend every day thinking about the end of the season,” Bohm told Rosenthal. “I’m not really trying to go out there and put pressure on myself, like, ‘Oh, I’ve got to get three hits today, so I can get more money in free agency.’ That’s not a great way to live.”