A Monday report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale mentioned that the Phillies are “listening” on Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh, and Alec Bohm in trade discussions:

The Phillies can’t believe they don’t have a ring in the Bryce Harper era, and after knocking on the door the past few years, they are willing to make a huge move to change their fate. Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations, has not internally discussed pursuing Soto with his staff but is painfully aware they need to shake up their lineup. Simply, scouts say, they’re just too easy to pitch to come crunchtime with their big swingers and contact-challenged hitters. If someone needs a slugger like Nick Castellanos, or outfield help in Brandon Marsh, or third baseman Alec Bohm, the Phillies are listening.

But don’t believe for a second the Phillies won’t keep spending, even if it means going beyond the third luxury-tax threshold of $281 million.

“For the right player,” Phillies owner John Middleton told reporters, “I have a high degree of confidence that Dave and I would go over the third limit.”

The Phillies are going to shake some things up this offseason, but how many current players will they actually move? It’s hard to tell. On one hand, this core can be good enough with the right supporting pieces around them. On the other hand, a lot of these players could bring back some value and give you a different look heading into a crucial 2025 season.

I don’t think Nick Castellanos is going anywhere. The contract isn’t the best, and if the Phillies wanted to spend big money in free agency this summer (Juan Soto), bailing on Castellanos’ contract in his fourth year with the team is definitely an option.

But you’d also be dishing a guy that hit .254 in 2024 with 23 homers, 86 RBIs, 30 doubles, and slashed .412/.412/.647 in 17 October ABs. Nick Castellanos is a big part of this clubhouse. He’s a leader, and was arguably the biggest reason why the Phillies stayed afloat at times throughout the regular season.

Brandon Marsh has an interesting case. Marsh has shown flashes, but the 26 year old failed once again to capitalize on left-handed pitching this season, hitting just .192/.270/.282 in 78 ABs with 33 strikeouts and 15 hits. Marsh hit well against righties, holding a .792 OPS on the season. But Marsh looked lost in October, going just 1 for 13 with 3 Ks.


Marsh is under team control through the 2027 season, and is eligible for his first year of arbitration this offseason. He was named a gold glove finalist this season, and has shown that he can thrive in situations that cater to him. But can he be an everyday player? The Phillies don’t have time for experiments.

Alec Bohm is the unknown. What version of Bohm is here for the future? The one who slashed .301/.365/.534 with runners in scoring position during the regular season, and logged a .370 batting average in April? Or the one that went 1 for 13 in October and got benched for a game in a crucial series against the Mets?

Bohm is entering his second year of arbitration after making $8.1M in 2024. He’s under Phillies control until the end of the 2026 season. Many teams in baseball would love Alec Bohm’s bat in their lineup.

This report doesn’t mean that the Phillies are actively shopping these three players. But it shows that Dave Dombrowski and John Middleton aren’t afraid to do whatever it takes to get the World Series trophy back to Philadelphia.