Phillies Urged To Cut Alec Bohm After Luis Arraez Move

SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 25: Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks connected anterior to the crippled betwixt the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Diego Padres astatine Petco Park connected Monday, May 25, 2026 successful San Diego, California. (Photo by Ryan Levy/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Philadelphia Phillies dramatically reshaped their lineup astatine the waste and acquisition deadline by acquiring four-time All-Star Luis Arraez, but that blockbuster instantly created difficult questions astir really the nine would align its defense for the agelong run.

Initially, the squad has moved franchise slugger Bryce Harper backmost to the outfield, replacing him pinch Alec Bohm astatine first guidelines truthful that Bryson Stott tin play 3rd and Arraez tin man his preferred position astatine 2nd base.

But not everyone believes that strategy will beryllium the champion way forward. In fact, 1 salient shot sound based on that the nine should usage the waste and acquisition arsenic a logic to region Bohm from the mundane image entirely.

ForbesMets’ Juan Soto At Odds With Francisco Lindor On Sitdown With Season In CrisisBy Peter Chawaga

Philadelphia Phillies' Luis Arraez Trade Sparks Alec Bohm Debate

While the Phillies addressed immoderate important violative questions by acquiring Arraez, it seemed arsenic if their infield and outfield alignment were secondary considerations.

“Arraez has played first guidelines successful his career, but he prefers 2nd guidelines and that’s wherever he will play for the Phillies,” Jim Salisbury noted for NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Others, too Harper, made sacrifices to accommodate Arraez. Second baseman Bryson Stott will move to 3rd guidelines and Alec Bohm will move crossed the gem to first base.”

That alignment drew contiguous disapproval from 1 seasoned columnist, who based on that the Phillies should person taken a overmuch tougher stance pinch Bohm alternatively of moving Harper to the outfield, wherever he will beryllium putting immoderate other accent connected a surgically repaired elbow.

Philadelphia Phillies Face Alec Bohm Decision After Blockbuster Trade

“The astir evident solution would beryllium to descent Bryson Stott to 3rd guidelines — not perfect for midseason — and instal Arraez astatine second, pinch Alec Bohm, who tin neither deed nor section astatine this point, going to the chair aliases beyond, alternatively than moving him to first guidelines and Bryce Harper to correct field,” The Athletic’s Keith Law urged.

The disapproval didn't extremity there. Law questioned whether Bohm should still beryllium playing immoderate important domiciled for the statement successful his statement year.

“I don’t cognize whether Bohm moreover has waste and acquisition worth astatine this point, pinch a $10.2 cardinal net and accumulation beneath replacement level,” Law added. “And because he’s a free supplier aft the play anyway, the Phillies person nary inducement astatine each to support playing him. (Also, today’s Bohm’s 30th birthday, so, uh, happy birthday, person you considered celebrating successful the Lehigh Valley?)”

That disapproval caught the attraction of galore readers, including salient analysts for illustration Ben Verlander and Mitch Rupert.

Whether the Phillies earnestly see specified a drastic move remains to beryllium seen. For now, the statement appears committed to keeping Bohm successful the lineup while shifting him to first guidelines and asking Harper to return to correct section for the first clip successful respective years.