Throughout the offseason, the infielder’s name was frequently mentioned in trade speculation, especially as the Philadelphia Phillies explored their options at third base. Although those talks have cooled heading into the 2025 season, the possibility of a midseason shake-up remains very much on the table—particularly if the Phillies falter in the standings.
Conor Liguori of Athlon Sports recently proposed a trade that would send the infielder—whose current contract is worth a hefty $142 million—to the Detroit Tigers.
Liguori argues that Vest could be a valuable addition to the Phillies’ bullpen, especially during a potential postseason run. He brings recent playoff experience, having made six appearances in last year’s postseason.
In this scenario, the Phillies would receive two players in return: infielder Andy Ibáñez and reliever Will Vest.
Proposed Trade:
- Detroit Tigers receive: 3B Alec Bohm
- Philadelphia Phillies receive: INF Andy Ibáñez, RP Will Vest
Vest held his own, giving up just one earned run over six innings while striking out nine batters. His performance the past two seasons has been solid, sporting a 146 ERA+ and averaging over eight strikeouts per nine innings—making him a dependable arm with postseason poise.
Ibáñez, meanwhile, offers defensive flexibility and postseason heroics of his own. He played a key role for the Tigers during their AL Wild Card Series win over the Houston Astros and has logged time at virtually every position on the diamond except catcher. In 2023, he posted a personal-best 103 OPS and has shown excellent defense in 2024, preventing four runs and recording an Outs Above Average (OAA) of 6.
That said, while this trade may fill some needs for Philadelphia—particularly in the bullpen—it also raises questions. Bohm has been one of the Phillies’ more reliable bats, and trading away a key piece of their infield without a clear replacement might not sit well with fans or the front office. While utility players like Edmundo Sosa can slide into third, the Phillies don’t exactly have a surplus of third base talent waiting in the wings.
More importantly, the suggested return package feels underwhelming. Even if the Phillies were to stumble out of the gate and consider selling at the deadline, it’s hard to imagine them moving Bohm—one of their top offensive performers—for a reliever and a utility man. Any serious offer would likely need to include a more significant prospect or an everyday starter in return.
For now, Bohm remains in Philly, but if the team doesn’t maintain its grip on the NL East, trade talks like this might resurface in a much louder way come July.
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