The Philadelphia Phillies were at the center of third base trade rumors throughout much of the offseason, particularly involving veteran star. While those talks have cooled in recent weeks, one baseball writer thinks a midseason move could still be on the table. Conor Liguori of Athlon Sports recently proposed a trade that would send him to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for infielder Andy Ibáñez and reliever Will Vest.
“Vest could strengthen the Phillies’ bullpen during a postseason push,” Liguori noted, referencing the right-hander’s steady playoff performance last year. Vest struck out nine batters across six innings while allowing just one earned run, and he’s coming off two strong seasons featuring a 146 ERA+ and a strikeout rate north of 8.1 per nine innings.
Ibáñez, meanwhile, brings valuable versatility, having played every position except catcher. He was a standout during the Tigers’ AL Wild Card Series win over the Astros and recorded a career-best OPS of 103 in 2023. Defensively, he’s been solid as well, preventing four runs and earning an Outs Above Average (OAA) rating of six in 2024.
While the Phillies aren’t facing pressure to move Bohm due to depth at third base, bullpen help may be a priority at the trade deadline. However, parting with one of their top hitters for a reliever and utility player might be too steep a price—unless Philadelphia stumbles in the standings. Even then, the front office would likely seek a more substantial return package.