Alec Bohm is one of the bigger question marks looming over the Phillies offseason. It seems like every offseason there are rumors of Bohm being traded here or there and so far, they haven’t come to fruition. It’s gotten to the point where the Phillies either have to deal him or say unequivocally that he is not being traded. One issue that could complicate the potential trade market is that Bohm is arbitration eligible this season and is projected to earn $10.3-million in 2026.

If the Phillies are considering Bohm – and they almost have to be at least open to the idea – then they have to think about “then what?” Edmundo Sosa and Otto Kemp both can play third base, but neither completely profiles as an everyday player at the major league level. Kemp in particular is considered more of a guy to bring off the bench than an everyday player at any position. Sosa would be closer to an everyday option, but his value really is in that he can play a number of positions and plays them all well. He is also a strong, veteran bat for Rob Thomson to bring off the bench.

Then, there’s Aidan Miller. One of the Phillies top prospects played eight games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley last season after putting up a 13-41-.259/.382/.487/.809 line last season with 52 stolen bases in 66 attempts over 489 plate appearances with Double-A Reading. Many fans are waiting to see Miller join the Phillies at the major league level and it’s not out of the question that he could make the club out of spring training, but it says here that he is not really ready.

But let’s say that Miller is ready to come to the majors and step in for Bohm. Fans – and some baseball people – don’t realize that he has never – never – played third base. Not in little league, not in high school and not in the pros. To take that a step further, as of the final week of the Triple-A season when Miller was preparing to go to Arizona to play in the AFL, the Phillies had not spoken with him about a position change. For the record, Miller is open to moving wherever the Phillies want him to play.

If the Phillies hadn’t ticketed Miller to play at least some third base in the AFL, how could they be looking at him taking over the position full-time at the major league level on Opening Day? Running him out there with just a spring training tenure of learning the position is a little unrealistic, especially for a 21-year-old kid.

Miller is an attractive option to add to the team for 2026. He can hit, he can steal bases, and simply wants to play baseball no matter where on the field he might be or what the situation. The thing is, that he’s a shortstop and not a third baseman. The only other “position” he has played is to be a DH. Shame on the Phillies for that. When he was drafted – Round 1, pick 27 of the first round in 2023 – there was talk of whether he would be able to stick at the position. His career .938 fielding percentage in the minors points to the fact that the Phillies probably should have shifted him around at least a little, but they failed to do that. Had they done it, they would at least have a feel for whether he could handle the position, which he likely could.

Maybe the Phillies put Sosa and/or Kemp at third for the first few months of the season and add Miller then, providing they put him at third base with Lehigh Valley and he shows that he ready defensively.

Another option may be to make a different move that has been considered in the past; move Trea Turner out of the shortstop position. Turner also has never played third base, but has played at second and in center field. The talk was moving him to a corner outfield spot which would leave the shortstop position open for Miller. What if Turner was to be auditioned at third? It’s possible that the Phillies told Turner to work on some skills at third during the offseason in preparation for a potential move. Turner is at least a veteran player who has played other positions and made the transitions with relative ease. He’s not a young guy battling for a spot on a big league roster as Miller would be.

Free agent Alex Bregman is an option, albeit an expensive one. As one of the top free agents who are available, Bregman will command a lot of money, which some experts put at five or six seasons with a salary ranging between $158 and $185-million. That’s a lot of money and years for a guy who turns 32 next March, especially with a team that is looking to get a little younger during the offseason.

Of course, maybe the current Bohm is being dealt rumors are just smoke and mirrors like they have been in the past. Who knows, maybe Bohm winds up playing his entire career in Philadelphia. Not great odds on that happening, but nothing is impossible.

The bottom line is… the Phillies have a lot of decisions to make between now and spring training, which by the way, as of writing this, is 106 days away. Third base is one of those they can put off. The best option may be to keep Bohm, have Miller play some third base with Lehigh Valley, and sometime between Game 1 of the 2026 season and the trade deadline, make a decision and potentially trade Bohm during the season. That makes for an easier transition for Miller and allows time for things to play out.