Phillies asking for Logan Gilbert or George Kirby in exchange for Alec Bohm is laughable at best

The Phillies reportedly set the bar sky-high in early trade talks with the Seattle Mariners regarding third baseman Alec Bohm, and honestly? It feels like a long shot bordering on wishful thinking.

According to The Seattle Times, Philadelphia opened negotiations by asking for one of Seattle’s top arms—Logan Gilbert or George Kirby—in exchange for Bohm.

It’s the kind of opening offer that makes you wonder if Phillies President Dave Dombrowski just wanted to test how hard Jerry Dipoto could laugh or at the very least, start building a foundation for actual trade offers that would actually be something attainable.

Why the Mariners Aren’t Likely to Bite

Seattle’s front office has been clear about their priorities: pitching is their foundation. Dipoto even doubled down on that during his end-of-season press conference:

“We could shoot ourselves in the foot by trying to get too crafty in what we do. Our pitching is how we’re built.”

Both Gilbert and Kirby are the type of arms teams dream of building rotations around.

Logan Gilbert (27): Fresh off his first All-Star appearance, Gilbert led MLB in innings pitched (208 2/3) and WHIP (0.887). He’s under team control until 2027, making him not just valuable, but nearly untouchable.

10 strikeouts through 6 shutout innings tonight for Logan Gilbert 👏

(via @PitchingNinja) pic.twitter.com/uEe7yckDdk

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 28, 2024

George Kirby (26): After his All-Star 2023 season, Kirby followed it up with a 3.53 ERA and MLB-best 7.78 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2024. He’s not a free agent until after 2028, adding even more value.

George Kirby, Wicked 88mph Slider. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/sMzLt8lQ6n

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 27, 2024

Trading either for Alec Bohm feels like a non-starter, especially when the Mariners are already struggling to add offense in a tough free-agent market.

Gilbert and Kirby are the type of assets that would require names like Andrew Painter or Aidan Miller to be on the table, not Alec Bohm.

What Does Alec Bohm Bring to the Table?

Bohm, 27, has been a steady contributor for the Phillies, driving in 97 runs in back-to-back seasons. He’s an above-average hitter who’s shown flashes of more potential, but questions remain about his overall ceiling:

• Can he be a long-term third baseman, or is he destined for first base or DH duties?
• How will his offense evolve—can he take a step toward becoming an elite bat, or is he more of a solid contributor?
• Can he maintain composure over a full 162-game grind?

These aren’t minor concerns, especially for a team like Seattle, which needs a transformative offensive piece, not just incremental improvement.

Why This Trade Proposal Was Always a Long Shot

It’s not unusual for teams to shoot high in opening trade talks. After all, you don’t know what’s possible unless you ask. But the gap between Alec Bohm’s value and what Gilbert or Kirby bring to the table is massive. If Bohm were the kind of player who could pry away an All-Star-caliber pitcher under team control, it’s hard to imagine the Phillies would be shopping him at all.

Even a trade involving Luis Castillo, a three-time All-Star owed $72.45 million over the next three seasons, would feel like a stretch. Castillo’s contract may make him a more realistic target, but Seattle’s reluctance to part with any of their big three starters (Gilbert, Kirby, or Castillo) is well-documented.

What Happens Next?

For any deal involving Bohm to materialize, the Phillies will have to lower their expectations. Seattle may need to dip into its pitching depth to improve their offense, but they’re far more likely to explore trades involving arms outside their top three, like Bryce Miller or Emerson Hancock.

Meanwhile, the Phillies need to decide what they want to achieve with a potential Bohm trade. Are they looking to address a short-term need, or is this part of a larger retooling strategy? Either way, asking for one of the league’s top young pitchers in return feels like a dead end.

Dombrowski’s approach is classic negotiation—start high and see where it goes—but if the Phillies are serious about moving Bohm, they’ll need to recalibrate their expectations. Otherwise, the conversation will end before it even begins.

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