Latest Phillies rumor could be savior for Tigers if Alex Bregman is off the table

After upsetting the Houston Astros in the Wild Card round of the 2024 MLB Playoffs, the Detroit Tigers have been rumored to best them once again – this time, on the free agent market.

The Tigers have long been considered a frontrunner to land free agent third baseman Alex Bregman this offseason as they seek to upgrade their offense and add some veteran stability to their clubhouse. However, president of baseball operations Scott Harris' hesitation to commit to spending big in free agency and the Astros' renewed interest in re-signing Bregman, it's possible that the slugger won't be the answer to the Tigers' third base problem.

But have no fear. In the event Bregman is no longer on the table, the baseball gods have gifted the Tigers with another viable option via the trade market in the form of Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm.

According to ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (subscription required), the Phillies have placed their All-Star on the trade block this offseason, despite the fact he's coming off a career year. If that is indeed the case, Harris should already be on the phone with his counterpart in Philadelphia to see what it would take to make Bohm a Tiger.

Tigers could pursue trade for Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm if Alex Bregman is off the table

Bohm was an above-average hitter for the Phillies in 2024, slashing .280/.332/.448 with 61 extra-base hits, including 18 home runs and 97 RBI. But he saw a dip in performance in the second half and even found himself benched during the postseason.

Bohm is just 28 years old and will make roughly $8 million in 2025. He won't be a free agent until 2027, so the extra years of team control would be particularly appealing to a team like the Tigers looking to build around their young core for sustained success in 2025 and beyond. However, this also means that the Phillies won't want to move on from him unless they can get a clear upgrade.

The Tigers might be able to put together a trade package to entice the Phillies, who are in need of some bullpen help. Detroit has a surplus of relief arms and a stacked farm system, so the two teams could be ideal trade partners if the Tigers were willing to deal from their prospect depth to get an upgrade at the hot corner.

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