The Philadelphia Phillies’ blockbuster trade for four-time All-Star Luis Arraez has created a significant defensive logjam, prompting at least one prominent baseball analyst to argue that the team should part ways with third baseman Alec Bohm rather than reshuffling their entire infield and outfield alignment.
The Phillies acquired Arraez from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline to address offensive inconsistencies, adding a three-time batting champion with a .360 on-base percentage to a lineup in need of more contact and on-base threats . However, the move forced the team into a major defensive overhaul.
To accommodate Arraez at his preferred position of second base, the Phillies implemented a cascading positional shift: Bryson Stott moved from second to third base, Alec Bohm moved across the diamond from third to first base, and franchise slugger Bryce Harper returned to right field for the first time since 2022.
“The most obvious solution would be to slide Bryson Stott to third base not ideal for midseason and install Arraez at second, with Alec Bohm, who can neither hit nor field at this point, going to the bench or beyond,” Keith Law of The Athletic wrote, criticizing the team’s decision to move Harper back to the outfield.
The criticism of Bohm is supported by a difficult 2026 campaign. Through 93 games, the former All-Star is batting just .213 with a .275 on-base percentage, 11 home runs, and 47 RBIs . His performance has been below replacement level, and advanced metrics show he has accumulated -0.6 WAR this season . For his career, Bohm owns a .275 average with 79 home runs over parts of seven seasons .
Law further questioned whether the Phillies should continue playing Bohm, who is in a contract year earning $10.2 million and is eligible for free agency after the season . “I don’t know whether Bohm even has trade value at this point, with a $10.2 million salary and production below replacement level,” Law added. “And because he’s a free agent after the season anyway, the Phillies have no incentive at all to keep playing him”.
The debate carries extra weight given reports that the Phillies actively explored trading Bohm in the days leading up to the trade deadline . According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Philadelphia had “floated Bohm in trade talks over the past two winters” and revisited those discussions before Monday’s deadline, but no deal materialized.
Had a trade been completed, it would have cleared the infield logjam and allowed the Phillies to keep Harper at first base while moving Stott to third . Some analysts suggested teams like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Guardians could have been potential suitors for Bohm.
The Phillies’ defensive reshuffling represents one of the most dramatic midseason positional overhauls in recent MLB history. MLB analyst Jayson Stark of The Athletic noted that the team could not find any historical precedent for “that dramatic a change for two months merely to accommodate one trade,” calling the move “an all-time stroke of boldness”.
The risks are significant. Philadelphia already ranks among the worst defensive teams in baseball, sitting 29th in Defensive Runs Saved (-36) and 29th in defensive efficiency (.673) . Moving Harper back to right field after elbow surgery adds further concern, with Law arguing that putting extra stress on Harper’s surgically repaired elbow is a questionable solution.
Harper himself has acknowledged the challenge, saying of returning to the outfield: “On the road, it’s gonna suck. I’m probably gonna get worn out a lot again” . Despite this, Harper has expressed willingness to make the sacrifice for the team’s benefit. “I’m very comfortable at first base. I love first base. I love being on the infield. So it’s something I’m doing just for the team,” he said. “I don’t have to do that in this part of my career. But I want to win”.
For now, the Phillies appear committed to their new alignment, with Bohm playing first base and Harper in right field . Whether interim manager Don Mattingly will consider a change remains to be seen, though analysts note that the team could eventually turn to outfielders Derek Hill or Bryan De La Cruz for more right field reps if the experiment fails .
The Phillies’ bold bet is that the offensive boost from Arraez who recorded a 1.111 OPS through his first nine at-bats with the team will outweigh defensive concerns as Philadelphia chases its first World Series championship since 2008 .
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