The Philadelphia Phillies face an important winter after another postseason disappointment, with several familiar players approaching free agency and only a few possibilities for meaningful changes on a roster built around Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski must decide which pieces of the club’s established core remain worth retaining as Philadelphia tries to turn its recent October frustrations into a deeper playoff run. And with just a handful of players set to exit the team when free agency begins after the World Series, fans are calling for significant changes wherever they might be possible.
“How aggressively Philadelphia approaches replacing or retaining (the free agents) comes with another layer of uncertainty,” Cole Weintraub wrote for NBC Sports Philadelphia. “If none of the seven impending free agents return, roughly $78 million in 2026 cash salary would no longer be committed.”
Pending free agent Alec Bohm is perhaps the most consequential decision facing the Phillies, and Dombrowski recently offered a message that suggested the club is starting to imagine life without the long-time infielder.
FORBES | By Peter Chawaga
Phillies Boss Pinpoints ‘Really, Really Good’ Infield Replacement After Trea Turner Decision
Philadelphia Phillies Could Reshape Roster After Alec Bohm’s Exit
During his end of season press conference, Dombrowski sent a message about how the team views Bohm’s upcoming free agent exit.
“There’s a lot of positives and I know that if he is not back with us, those 90 runs he drives in every year will be missed, and we’ll have to pick it up in other ways,” Dombrowski said, according to On Pattison’s Tim Kelly. “But he’s a guy who has done a good job, solid job for us.”
Bohm was selected third overall in the 2018 MLB Draft and has developed into a regular run producer for the Phillies. His value is especially notable because right-handed hitters who can consistently contribute in the middle of a lineup are not always easy to replace.
However, his tenure with the Phillies has been marked with a few significant low points, he has often been floated in trade discussions and he could be a prime candidate for a change of team as the Phillies look to make big changes where they can.
He also seems likely to garner significant contract offers from other teams this winter.
“I was on the phone this week with a high-ranking American League executive who mentioned that Bohm is a player who will have a strong market in free agency,” FanSided’s Robert Murray reported.
As a result, Dombrowski’s message might have represented a goodbye from the organization as Bohm prepares for free agency.
FORBES | By Peter Chawaga
Braves Replace 4-Year Infielder With Giants Castoff Immediate After Season Ends
Philadelphia Phillies Face Difficult Offseason Roster Decisions
Bohm is not the only player whose departure could force the Phillies to rethink their roster. The club’s other impending free agents, including Luis Arraez and Jose Alvarado, create several decisions about how much of its existing group to preserve and where to redirect resources.
The money potentially coming off the books offers some flexibility, but it does not automatically mean Philadelphia will have an equivalent amount available to spend. Other players are due raises, and the club must balance immediate needs against its longer-term payroll commitments.
Dombrowski’s comments suggest the Phillies recognize Bohm’s contributions even as they evaluate whether bringing him back makes sense. If he departs, replacing his production will become another challenge for a team seeking to get back to the postseason and advance further when it gets there.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com