Phillies’ Future Infielder Sends Bo Bichette Message After $126 Million Decision

The Philadelphia Phillies are heading into an offseason with important questions about their infield, including whether Trea Turner will remain at shortstop after a difficult defensive season.

Turner’s future could become a defining storyline as the Phillies try to keep their championship window open. The club also has potential changes at third base to consider, with Alec Bohm entering free agency and top prospect Aidan Miller pushing toward the major leagues after missing most of 2026 with a back injury.

Miller’s potential role next season — which could come at shortstop or third base depending on how things proceed — as well as some high-profile contract negotiations from last offseason, made his recent message about his baseball role model particularly interesting.

“Miller, who models his game after former Phillies free-agent target Bo Bichette, is playing third base in the Fall League, a potential precursor to replacing free agent Alec Bohm,” Scott Lauber relayed for The Philadelphia Inquirer. “But (president of baseball operations Dave) Dombrowski also met with Turner this week and issued what amounted to an ultimatum: Improve your defense, or get moved off shortstop.”

Philadelphia Phillies’ Mimics Bo Bichette With Shortstop, Third Base Opportunities Ahead

Dombrowski made it very clear that Miller could factor into the Phillies’ big-league plans as they evaluate their infield for 2027. The prospect’s ability to handle both shortstop and third base gives the club options, although his eventual position will depend on the roster’s needs and his development.

“Shortstop Trea Turner could be asked to move to the outfield, although it is unclear if those conversations will take place,” Todd Zolecki wrote for MLB.com. “Miller is playing third base this fall, which is an AFL roster/playing time consideration more than it is a signal of the Phillies’ future plans for him. He could play third and short next year as he pushes for a promotion.”

Miller’s return to the field after a lengthy injury absence has added urgency to the discussion. The 22-year-old prospect has an opportunity to make up for lost development time and potentially push for a major-league role next season. Still, the Phillies have not committed to replacing Turner, and Miller’s fall assignment alone does not guarantee a position change.

Philadelphia Phillies Seek Infield Changes After Bo Bichette’s $126 Million Contract Move

The Bichette comparison also recalls a significant missed opportunity for Philadelphia last winter. The former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop signed a short-term contract with the New York Mets after declining the Phillies’ pursuit.

“A year ago, the Phillies reportedly offered Bichette close to $200 million over eight seasons, but he turned it down knowing a three-year, $126 million contract could set him up to make significantly more than $200 million over that same eight-year period,” Anthony DiComo noted for MLB.com.

Bichette’s decision left the Phillies without the star infield addition it had targeted, while his move to third base in New York underscored the positional flexibility that Miller seeks to emulate.

Now, Miller represents a potential in-house solution. If Turner remains at shortstop, Miller could still compete for time at third base, particularly if Bohm departs. If Turner moves elsewhere, Miller’s defensive experience at shortstop could become more important.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com