The Philadelphia Phillies entered 2024 with high hopes of winning a championship. After claiming their first National League East title since 2011, their postseason run ended abruptly in the NLDS at the hands of the New York Mets. As the Phillies look to make changes this winter, could St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado be a potential trade target? President of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, shared his thoughts on the team’s offseason strategy following the early playoff exit on October 15. He acknowledged the team’s talent but emphasized the importance of staying open to opportunities. “We have a lot of good players, but we need to explore what’s out there, talk to other clubs, and see what happens. Sometimes you trade good players for good players,” Dombrowski stated, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.
One such player who may be involved in trade discussions is third baseman Alec Bohm. The 2024 All-Star posted an impressive .779 OPS, with 15 home runs, 44 doubles, and 97 RBIs over 606 plate appearances. However, despite his strong regular season, Bohm found himself benched during the postseason due to struggles, and now his name is circulating in trade rumors as the Phillies consider changes to their roster.
Enter Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glove winner with a no-trade clause in his eight-year, $260 million contract. While Arenado could waive the clause for the right team, some experts believe the Phillies could be a good fit. MLB.com’s Will Leitch suggests that Arenado could be a perfect addition to Philadelphia, especially if the team is willing to trade Bohm. With three years and $74 million remaining on his contract (excluding the portion the Rockies are paying), Arenado’s cost is relatively manageable. As the Phillies aim to contend for a World Series over the next few seasons, Arenado could be the key piece they need. Despite a slightly underwhelming 2024 campaign, where he posted a .719 OPS with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs, Arenado remains a potent offensive threat, and a fresh start in Philadelphia could spark a return to his previous elite form.
