The Philadelphia Phillies pulled off a dramatic walk-off win on Monday, thanks to a catcher’s interference in extra innings by the Boston Red Sox.
The victory allowed the Phillies to cling to their slim lead atop the National League East. However, if they want to stay in front, reinforcements may be needed before the trade deadline.
Despite adding veteran reliever David Robertson in free agency, the Phillies are still expected to prioritize bullpen depth. Offensive reinforcements are also on the table—especially following a tough blow to the lineup after third baseman Alec Bohm suffered a significant injury.
According to The Associated Press, “Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm has a fractured left rib and was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday.” Bohm had been hitting .278 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs across 92 games this season.
After a breakout All-Star performance was followed by a tough slump and postseason benching last year, Alec Bohm has remained at the center of trade rumors surrounding the Phillies. With the third baseman now sidelined during a key stretch of the season, those rumors have only intensified as fans speculate about a potential replacement.
However, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski downplayed the impact of Bohm’s injury on the team’s trade plans.
“Dombrowski said Bohm’s injury doesn’t change how he views the team’s need for a bat, possibly because he already knew the Phils needed one,” Todd Zolecki reported for MLB.com.
Dombrowski may be optimistic that Bohm’s stint on the injured list will be short-lived or confident that Otto Kemp can handle third base in the meantime. Still, the likeliest scenario is that, regardless of Bohm’s health, the Phillies were already working the trade market in search of a cost-effective boost to the offense.
Source: NewsWeek
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