Mar 24, 2024; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (28) reacts after hitting a RBI double in the first inning of the spring game against the Toronto Blue Jays at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports Jonathan Dyer
Phillies pitchers and catchers — and On Pattison — will report to Spring Training on Wednesday. Here are four storylines I'm looking forward to seeing play themselves out at Clearwater.
Just a few months after he started at third base for the National League All-Star team, Bohm was a healthy scratch in Game 2 of the NLDS against the New York Mets as Rob Thomson tried to get a spark by inserting Edmundo Sosa into the lineup. Sosa didn't really impact that game, and Bohm would later come on as a pinch hitter. But after posting a .681 second-half OPS and struggling to control his emotions at times down the stretch, it was fair to wonder whether Bohm would be back with the Phillies in 2025.
For his part, Bohm was confident after the Phillies were eliminated by the Mets in four games that he hadn't played his last game with the team:
Alec Bohm on if he’s at a crossroads: “No, I know where I’ll be next year.” @OnPattison @PhilliesNation pic.twitter.com/MzCAMAf9a8
It looks like Bohm's prediction will be correct, although there appeared to be some real substance to trade rumors involving the 28-year-old in November and December, even if the Phillies were said to have a very high asking price.
Thomson told "The Phillies Show" that he called Bohm when the trade rumors were swirling.
"Yeah, when all the rumors started, I called Alec ... because this is really the first time he's gone through this ... I told him 'Look, we're not looking to move you. The only reason your name keeps coming up is because you're a really good player and other teams have interest. So if people are talking about trades, we have to listen and figure out what we need to do.'"
It should be noted that you don't have to listen to trade inquires on a player. For example, if someone had called the Phillies on Bryce Harper or Zack Wheeler last offseason, that conversation probably would have ended as quickly as it started. Bohm's name being out there for an extended period suggests that the Phillies did seriously consider whether he should be part of their future or not. They may have also thought that persistent rumors would light a fire under Bohm in the event he was back in 2025.
Back in December, Dombrowski said he wasn't worried about any lingering hurt feelings that might come from trade rumors if Bohm didn't end up getting dealt.
"No, I'm not worried about it," Dombrowski said. "There's a lot of rumors. He's been working hard, he continues to do so. Topper felt very comfortable with the conversations. In many ways, it's probably a tribute more to him that he's a good player that his name has come up.
"We continue to like him a great deal," Dombrowski added. "I think he's going to come out and have a tremendous season. He's driven in 97 runs the last two years in a row, and he's improved at third base. And I think he's only gonna get better and better. So no, I'm not worried about that."
Bohm will surely say all the right things during Spring Training. The real test will come if he gets off to a slow start and hears some boos at Citizens Bank Park in April from a fanbase that thought at times this winter that he might not be back in 2025. Does that get to him and snowball, or will Bohm just power through it like Nick Castellanos did after a slow start a year ago?
Both Schwarber and Realmuto are entering the final season of lucrative contracts. The Phillies do need to be careful not to extend too many players in their 30s considering the commitments they already have made to Harper, Wheeler, Trea Turner and Aaron Nola. But it's hard to imagine the team being better in 2026 without Schwarber and/or Realmuto.
Schwarber said at last week's WM Open Pro-Am golf tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz. that he's hopeful to be with the Phillies beyond 2025.
"I haven’t gone down to Spring [Training] yet, but there’s interest on my side, and we’ll see if there’s interest on their side," Schwarber said to Kyle Odegard of Sports Talk Philly. "We’ll go from there."
Schwarber has hit 131 home runs during three seasons with the Phillies, while also becoming perhaps the biggest leader in the clubhouse. He is pretty much strictly a DH at this point of his career, but tacking on a couple years to the 32-year-old's contract feels like it would be a smart investment.
Meanwhile, this will be the second time Realmuto is going through a contract year with the Phillies. Will Harper repeat his not-so-subtle 2020 campaign about inking Realmuto to a long-term deal? Probably not considering Realmuto will turn 34 in March.
Bryce Harper really yelled "sign him" after J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer in summer camp. pic.twitter.com/Vp9FGfpyYg
At the same time, Realmuto is in a very similar situation to what Carlos Ruiz was later in his career. He's probably no longer at the height of his powers, but even a slightly diminished version of Realmuto is still one of the better catchers in the league. Even if Rafael Marchán wins the backup job over Garrett Stubbs and performs well in 2025, his injury history makes it hard to imagine him being handed the starting job next season. Top prospect Eduardo Tait is only 18 years old and likely a ways away from the majors, even in the best-case scenario.
The Phillies gave Ruiz a three-year extension ahead of his age-35 season. There were lots of things at play then, like the Phillies trying to finalize a major RSN deal. Three years feels like a long time to re-sign a mid-30s catcher for. But two years? That might be what it takes.
It may be that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski lets 2025 play out, leaving open the possibility to shake things up in 2026 depending upon how this upcoming season goes. But don't be shocked if Schwarber and/or Realmuto are still with the Phillies at this time next year.
It's a Spring Training cliche to say that someone is "in the best shape of their life," but in Alvarado's case, it might actually be true.
In a since-deleted workout video posted to Instagram, Alvarado looked significantly slimmer than he was a year ago:
Based off of a workout video he shared to Instagram, José Alvarado might really have a case for being in the best shape of his life when Spring Training starts.
— Tim Kelly (@timkellysports.bsky.social) January 27, 2025 at 7:10 PM
[image or embed]
This is how Alvarado described himself last spring:
"bro I feel like a fat boy. I'm fucking fat." -Jose Alvarado pic.twitter.com/w15DS5C7fw
Alvarado stayed healthy last year, taking the ball 66 times. But he posted a 4.09 ERA and 9.19 K/9. Both were massive regressions after he finished 2023 with a 1.74 ERA and 13.94 K/9 in 42 appearances. If he's in better shape in 2025, Alvarado could be a bounce-back candidate. That would be a huge development after both Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez departed in free agency. Alvarado is making $9 million, so the Phillies need more than they got last year.
Additionally, Alvarado's contract has a $9 million club option for 2026, and it only comes with a $500,000 buyout if the Phillies decline it. He'll want to make the decision on his option much more difficult on the Phillies than it would have been this winter.
It's the return of everyone's least favorite debate: Who should lead off for the Phillies?
While it seemed earlier this offseason like Bryson Stott could potentially be a candidate, Thomson pretty much ruled that out in an appearance on "The Phillies Show" in January.
"Well the thing is that we're so left-handed," Thomson said. "And you want Harper and you want Schwarber getting as many at-bats as you can. And now you put Stott in the leadoff spot, now you're really left-handed at the top. It might create a problem. Even if you're facing a right-hander ... you know, everybody's got three lefties in the 'pen it seems anymore. And they'll just start matching up on you."
It would appear then that the leadoff spot will come down to either Schwarber or Turner. Or perhaps some combination of the two.
"I think we'll play with it during Spring Training and see where it goes and see what the best fit for us is," Thomson said. "And maybe it's a situation where if we're facing a lefty we do one thing, if we're facing a righty we do another thing. Maybe it's moving [Kyle] Schwarber behind [Bryce] Harper to protect Harper more ... which, maybe that moves Harper up in the lineup a little bit ... not leadoff, but maybe two.
"But those are conversations that I've gotta have with guys and we'll do the best thing we can and keep people comfortable, but at the same time, put the best lineup out there to score runs," Thomson continued. "I tell people all the time 'Don't forget now, we were top five in almost every major category offensively. So let's not try and outthink this thing.'"
You might wonder what could happen in Spring Training to change what the Phillies do at the leadoff spot considering both have parts of 10 MLB seasons already under their belts.
But the Phillies may want to see how Turner's swing looks in Grapefruit League play to determine who leads off. The version of Turner who hit .316 between 2020 and 2022 would be a great leadoff hitter. But Turner has hit .279 in two seasons with the Phillies, displaying more swing and miss than he did at his best with the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Phillies want the 2020-2022 iteration of Turner, and the guess here is they will try to speak that into existence and have him lead off on Opening Day against the Nats.
Want more Philadelphia Phillies news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for THE Philly Sports Newsletter here. 100% free, always.
