Phillies complete a swap trade of Alec Bohm and two prospects for three-time All-Star

The Philadelphia Phillies began 2024 with championship ambitions. Despite winning the National League East for the first time since 2011, they were eliminated by the New York Mets in the National League Division Series. Could Philadelphia change things up this winter by pursuing Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker in the trade market?

According to Dylan Sanders of SI.com, the Phillies should take this into consideration. He also does not feel third baseman Alec Bohm should be banned. Here’s the planned trade he arranged:

The Phillies have acquired outfielder Kyle Tucker.
Astros acquire third baseman Alec Bohm, right-handed pitcher Andrew Painter, and outfielder/first baseman Carlos De La Cruz.

According to MLB.com, this hypothetical trade would send a 2024 All-Star to Houston along with Philadelphia’s second and 25th-ranked prospects. Of course, this only makes sense if long-time Houston third baseman Alex Bregman leaves in free agency.

Tucker was chosen an All-Star for the third consecutive year in 2024, but he was limited to 78 games due to injury. He was nonetheless extremely productive in 339 plate appearances for the Astros. The outfielder hit.289/.408/.585, with 23 home runs, 49 RBI, and 56 runs scored. He earned $12 million last year and is expected to receive $15.8 million in arbitration this winter.

Kyle Tucker Would Be a Long-Term Fit for the Phillies

Tucker’s final season of arbitration will be in 2025, as he is set to become a free agency the following offseason. It’s unclear whether he’ll stay in Houston long-term. So he’ll most likely be the focus of trade rumors until he gets a multi-year contract.

Philadelphia has already been linked to the three-time All-Star. He’d fit in perfectly with the club’s outfield mix, and Dombrowski would probably have no difficulty handing him the hefty contract he’ll be looking for on the free market. Spotrac estimates that his next contract will be worth $195 million and last seven years.

According to FanGraphs’ Roster Resource, the Phillies’ starting outfield includes Austin Hays in left field, Brandon Marsh in center field, and Nick Castellanos in right. Johan Rojas also played centerfield in 2024. Last season, the Phillies’ outfield offense struggled. They had a 97 wRC+, which ranked 18th in baseball, according to FanGraphs.

So, the soon-to-be 28-year-old would be a significant upgrade for the Phillies in 2025 and in the near future.

Could Tucker Be Part of an Offseason Roster Makeover in Philly?

The Phillies advanced to the World Series in 2022. They were just one win away from returning to the Fall Classic in 2023. This season fell short of expectations, with the Mets eliminating them in the NLDS. While the club appears to be set to win, could Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations, make significant roster adjustments this winter?

“To me, the answer is not the missing piece,” Dombrowski said during his end-of-season press conference, via MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. “The answer is playing well at the right time. I don’t think there’s any secret formula. I take my responsibilities. I’m sure Rob Thomson takes his responsibilities. But sometimes you play well and sometimes you don’t.”