The Phillies are likely to be faced with some rather difficult roster conclusions when spring coaching breaks in two weeks and the team heads north to start off the regular period.
In addition to rounding out its bullpen and selecting who will provide as J.T. Realmuto’s backup catcher, the team is likely to will need to determine out how to make the numbers do the job when picking out the other 3 or four bench players for the lively roster.
The fight for utility gentleman is intense, with Scott Kingery, Nick Maton, Johan Camargo and Ronald Torreyes all in opposition for a spot on the bench. Incorporate to that shortstop prospect Bryson Stott and the actuality that the crew is possible to carry an added outfielder, and you can see issues receiving rather limited.
Having said that there is an unanticipated identify who could also be battling for a position, in accordance to NBC Sporting activities Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury: former initial round pick Alec Bohm.
In the wake of Nick Castellanos’ signing, the Phils are generating certain they have sufficient at-bats to go about for their star gamers. And that could appear at the expense of the one particular-time best player in the Phillies’ full farm technique.
Girardi reported there are “no strategies” to engage in Castellanos at 3rd. He is anticipated to get some time in still left area, some time in suitable subject (when Bryce Harper is the DH) and some time at DH.
Nonetheless, Castellanos’ perform at third foundation is appealing simply because that place still looks unsettled 16 days ahead of Opening Day. Alec Bohm does not appear to have the job locked down. In reality, there is credible buzz that he could be employed in a trade. Newcomer Johan Camargo has lots of major-league expertise at the situation and has swung the bat nicely so much in camp.
Probably Castellanos is without a doubt just using balls at third for the training of it all.
But perhaps he is becoming evaluated as a depth piece at an unsettled posture. [NBCSP]
Girardi sort of confirmed the 3rd base situation when he talked to the media Thursday morning:
Girardi, when requested if he sees 3B as open up level of competition: “Yeah. We are hoping that Alec runs w/ it. He has a leg up on all people but this is a overall performance enterprise. I see him making enhancements, we are satisfied with what we see in his work, but it’s a thing that’s not etched in stone”
— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) March 24, 2022
Bohm has hit the ball tough in his shorter significant league occupation, but that is about all he’s accomplished. In 597 occupation at-bats in the majors, the 25-calendar year-previous has just 11 dwelling runs. He also has a vocation WAR of -1.4, largely thanks to his 19 mistakes at 3rd foundation. He experienced the third-most errors at the hot corner in all of baseball in 2021.
If he carries on to be a defensive liability, and if he isn’t capable to flash any electricity in a lineup that is obviously going to require to out-slug opponents in order to earn video games, there is some logic to him staying on the trade block.
The issue, then, is what would a Bohm trade yield in return?
As we talked about just higher than, there is an abundance of depth when it comes to bats who can contribute. If Bohm could fetch the Phillies a rotation-caliber starter, or an ace reliever, the crew may consider pulling the trigger.
Stott has manufactured seven profession begins at third foundation and probably could uncover a faster path to the majors if he assumes that function. All of the utility men vying for a bench spot, with Camargo described in individual, can engage in 3rd. And Castellanos is plainly training there for a reason.
It is really unclear irrespective of whether this rumor has legs, or if Bohm will be capable to get paid back again the starting gig at 3rd that was his previous year. But what is distinct is that the Phillies are not prepared to mess all over. They’re going to be having to pay for the privilege of expending “silly money” in a luxurious tax levied for the 1st time in crew record. Third base will be a really attention-grabbing circumstance to keep an eye on as the 2022 year ways.
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