The Philadelphia Phillies may be heading toward one of the more intriguing trade scenarios of the offseason, especially as they look to regroup following their disappointing postseason run. After falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs—a loss that stung for a team with legitimate World Series aspirations—Philadelphia enters the winter with a clear understanding that significant roster adjustments may be necessary. While the Phillies are widely expected to be active in adding talent, the coming months could also feature notable subtractions from their current core.
One potential move gaining traction comes from MLB analyst Jake Storiale of Talkin’ Yankees, who recently floated a bold trade prediction involving the Phillies and the New York Yankees. According to Storiale, Philadelphia could move third baseman Alec Bohm and young reliever Orion Kerkering to the Yankees in exchange for a package of pitching prospects. It’s a hypothetical deal that, on the surface, raises eyebrows but also contains enough logic to feel plausible for both sides.
Storiale elaborated on why this type of trade could materialize, noting that the Yankees have a collection of appealing young arms in their farm system—players who might fit what Philadelphia is looking for as it reshapes portions of its roster.
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“The Yankees have some talented arm prospects that are interesting,” Storiale explained, pointing out that New York’s big-league roster does not necessarily contain players the Phillies would aggressively pursue. He added that Bohm is projected to earn around $10 million next year via arbitration, while Kerkering remains near the league-minimum salary threshold.
From New York’s perspective, the appeal is obvious. Bohm would provide the Yankees with a versatile infield option who can slot in at either corner spot or serve as a designated hitter if needed. He consistently puts the ball in play, rarely strikes out at alarming rates, and would bring a contact-first bat into a lineup that often struggles with such balance. At the bottom or middle of the batting order, Bohm could give the Yankees a stabilizing offensive presence—particularly valuable given the inconsistencies that plagued the team last season.
Kerkering, meanwhile, represents the type of young, high-upside reliever who might thrive in a new environment. Armed with swing-and-miss stuff and the potential to handle high-leverage innings, he could help reinforce a New York bullpen that has several question marks heading into next year. Though he was solid overall last season, posting an 8–4 record and a 3.30 ERA in 69 appearances, some within the Phillies organization believe his development has plateaued slightly. A change of scenery and the guidance of the Yankees’ strong pitching infrastructure might push him to another level.
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On the other side of the equation, Philadelphia’s motivations are equally clear. The Phillies have been aggressively building a roster aimed at competing for championships, but they also recognize the value of leveraging assets that may not be long-term fits.
Neither Bohm nor Kerkering is universally regarded within the organization as a core piece for the future. Bohm has been a steady contributor, hitting .287 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs last season, yet his defensive limitations and inconsistent power production have created ongoing conversations about whether he is the right long-term solution at third base.
By moving him now—when his value remains solid—the Phillies could replenish their pitching depth with young arms who could either be developed internally or repackaged in future trade deadline deals.
Philadelphia has shown a willingness in recent seasons to use prospect capital aggressively in pursuit of immediate upgrades, and acquiring more tradeable assets aligns with that overall approach. Additionally, the organization is looking to fortify its pitching pipeline, an area that has lagged behind the offensive side of their farm system.
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For Kerkering, the rationale is slightly different yet complementary. While he has impressed at times, Philadelphia has several young relievers emerging in the system and could afford to deal from an area of relative depth. If the Phillies can convert him into a higher-upside starting pitching prospect or multiple arms who could impact the roster down the road, the deal becomes even more appealing.
When viewed through this lens, Storiale’s trade prediction begins to look increasingly logical. New York gains two players who can help immediately, addressing both lineup depth and bullpen reliability, while Philadelphia obtains flexibility and long-term pitching upside. The financial component also cannot be ignored: moving Bohm’s projected $10 million salary could give the Phillies additional room to pursue major free-agent upgrades.
It is also worth noting that the Phillies’ front office has shown no hesitation to make bold moves. President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski has a long-standing reputation for aggressive roster construction, and the team’s win-now window only heightens that urgency. Trading Bohm and Kerkering would certainly qualify as a bold step, but it could also be the type of calculated risk that ultimately strengthens the organization’s position in both the short and long term.
While there is no confirmation that talks between the two franchises are active, predictions like Storiale’s help highlight the strategic choices the Phillies are likely evaluating. With a need to maximize their roster while managing finances and future assets, moving players who aren’t viewed as foundational long-term pieces could prove beneficial.
And for the Yankees—who are seeking stability, offensive diversity, and bullpen reinforcements—the potential addition of Bohm and Kerkering could offer meaningful upgrades without sacrificing their current big-league core.
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As the offseason unfolds, this hypothetical deal will remain one of the more interesting scenarios to watch. Whether Philadelphia pulls the trigger or decides to go in a different direction, it’s clear that significant changes could be coming—and both Bohm and Kerkering may find themselves at the center of those conversations.
Phillies Could Trade Bohm
As the offseason begins, Alec Bohm’s future in Philadelphia has become a topic of growing speculation. His name has surfaced repeatedly in early trade conversations, signaling that the Phillies may be open to exploring roster changes after another strong season that ultimately fell short of a championship. With the front office evaluating ways to retool, Bohm is viewed by some insiders as a possible piece the team could consider moving.
During the recent MLB GM Meetings, insider Jon Morosi highlighted Bohm as a player whose situation bears watching. Speaking on MLB Network, Morosi noted that while Bohm has demonstrated stretches of play that resemble All-Star potential, he has not always maintained that level of consistency. That combination—high upside paired with occasional uneven performance—makes him an intriguing but not untouchable trade candidate.
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Morosi emphasized, however, that Philadelphia would not deal Bohm without a very compelling return. Any move involving their starting third baseman would need to bring back a proven star or a significant upgrade.
Morosi mentioned that the Phillies would likely only consider trading Bohm if it meant acquiring a marquee infielder such as Alex Bregman or perhaps pursuing Bo Bichette in a role other than shortstop. Philadelphia’s front office believes their contention window is firmly open, so any roster shake-up must clearly strengthen the team.
Because of that, the Phillies are expected to be highly selective in any discussions involving Bohm. Still, Morosi believes the possibility of a trade is real. With the team exploring various paths to improve, they could ultimately decide this offseason is the right time to move on from Bohm—if, and only if, the return package represents a clear step forward for their lineup and long-term plans.
Philadelphia is Close to World Series
Despite falling short in the NLDS, Phillies executive Dave Dombrowski continues to express strong belief in the current direction of the franchise. He views the team as being on the verge of breaking through and intends to approach the offseason with determination and urgency. In his view, Philadelphia is not far from surpassing the Dodgers and reaching the World Series, even though they were unable to take that final step this year.
Dombrowski stressed that the gap between the Phillies and the Dodgers is not wide, pointing out how competitively the two clubs matched up. He acknowledged, however, that the Dodgers ultimately prevailed, which means there is still work to be done to rise to their level in the postseason. His message was clear: the Phillies are close, but improvement is necessary.
At the same time, Dombrowski does not believe the team requires sweeping, dramatic changes to remain a contender. He pushed back against the idea that a major overhaul is needed, noting that Philadelphia won 96 games last season and established itself as one of the top teams in the league. He emphasized that while the organization always seeks opportunities to get better, the foundation of the roster remains strong.
Dombrowski also pointed out that several roster questions will naturally shape how the offseason unfolds, including built-in decisions the front office must address regarding contracts, roles, and areas of depth. Additionally, the team expects some younger players to continue developing and gradually integrate into the big-league mix, providing further internal support.
The Phillies captured the NL East title last season, reinforcing Dombrowski’s belief that the club is positioned to compete at the highest level with only targeted improvements rather than sweeping reconstruction.
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