With a dominant starting rotation, the Philadelphia Phillies entered the 2025 season with clear championship hopes. Their 7-2 record so far has only fueled the excitement surrounding the team.
Still, there are some concerns, especially with the bullpen showing some shaky performances recently. The Phillies also face a bit of a roster crunch as they look to give the red-hot Edmundo Sosa more consistent playing time.
One potential solution? Killing two birds with one stone.
Sam Bernardi of Athlon Sports recently proposed a trade that could both create room for Sosa and address the bullpen issue. In this scenario, the Phillies would trade third baseman Alec Bohm to the San Diego Padres in exchange for right-handed reliever Jeremiah Estrada.
Alec Bohm Has Proven to be Clutch Offensively
Since the Phillies selected Alec Bohm with the third overall pick in 2018, he has been a crucial part of their future plans, and it’s easy to see why—he can flat-out hit.
Bohm finished second in the 2020 National League Rookie of the Year voting after posting a .338 average in the shortened season. He’s proven to be a reliable performer in clutch situations, holding a .312 career average with runners in scoring position.
In 2024, Bohm posted a solid .280 average with 15 home runs, 97 RBIs, and 44 doubles—second-most in the NL. He earned his first All-Star selection, starting at third base for the National League, and was a finalist for a Silver Slugger Award.
Despite his offensive success, Bohm’s defense has been a point of concern. While he has shown some improvement, his defensive metrics have sometimes lagged behind league averages, leading the Phillies to consider options for shoring up their infield defense.
Edmundo Sosa’s Hot Start Could Make Alec Bohm Expendable
Edmundo Sosa has emerged as a legitimate alternative, making it hard for the Phillies to keep him on the bench. Heading into Tuesday’s game, Sosa was hitting an impressive .550 with a 1.321 OPS, and his scorching start might force manager Rob Thomson into some difficult lineup decisions.
“We really have to get him in the lineup,” Thomson said after Philadelphia’s 8-7 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
Sosa started at third base in that game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. But it was his hustle during a late-game forceout that played a pivotal role in the win. Sosa beat out a potential double-play grounder in the seventh inning, keeping the rally alive and allowing the game-winning run to score.
“We really have to look at this,” Thomson said about Sosa’s hot streak. “So far, it’s real. Two hits every game. He’s been great at third, short, and even played well in center on Saturday.”
In the proposed trade, Bernardi notes that the Phillies would acquire Jeremiah Estrada, an “electrifying reliever” known for his powerful four-seam fastball and “chitter,” a version of a split-finger changeup. Estrada’s pitch has a devastating drop, blending the traits of a Vulcan changeup and a circle change.
Estrada had a standout 2024 season, appearing in 62 games with a 6-3 record and a 2.95 ERA. He struck out 94 batters in 61 innings, and at one point set an MLB record by fanning 13 consecutive hitters.
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