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Phillies top position prospect Alec Bohm hires Scott Boras as agent

CLEARWATER, FL – FEBRUARY 19: Alec Bohm (80) of the Phillies poses during the Philadelphia Phillies Photo Day on February 19, 2020, at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)

Alec Bohm, the Philadelphia Phillies top position prospect, has hired Scott Boras as his agent, according to Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Boras, of course, is the most prolific agent in baseball history, having negotiated a few record-setting deals. On just the Phillies alone, he’s responsible for having negotiated Bryce Harper’s 13-year/$330 million deal and Jake Arrieta’s three-year/$75 million deal with two option years.

Having not played a game at the major league level yet, Bohm, 23, is years away from reaching free agency. However, part of hiring Boras could be trying to maximize his earnings through his pre-arbitration and arbitration years, whether that’s through going year to year in the arbitration system or signing a deal soon that buys out his arbitration years.

Across three levels of the minor leagues in 2019, Bohm slashed .305/.378/.518 with 21 home runs, 80 RBIs and an .896 OPS. Before COVID-19 disrupted society, the expectation was the Bohm would begin the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley – a level he’s yet to play at – and make his major league debut at some point in 2020. Now, it doesn’t appear there will be a minor league season, and with a shortened season and expanded rosters, it’s hard to make a case for Bohm not spending the 2020 season at the major league level.

Both how frequently Bohm finds himself in Joe Girardi’s lineup in 2020 and his earning potential will come down to whether he’s able to stick at third base, his natural position. Bohm, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, has a bat that’s ready for the major league level. His glove has drawn less positive reviews.

Under some proposals for the 2020 season, there would be a universal DH. Bohm may be best geared to fill that role, though he would obviously have more value as a position player, even if that position doesn’t end up being third base. The other issue is that even if COVID-19 forces the DH to the National League in 2020, it’s unclear if the DH will ever come to the senior circuit on a permanent basis.

The Phillies did sign Scott Kingery to a six-year/$24 million deal with three club options before he ever played a regular season game. The Atlanta Braves locked young superstars Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies to long-term deals before they ever reached free agency. That said, all three of those deals were considered ridiculously team friendly. None of them were negotiated by the Boras Corporation, which is known for maximizing the earnings of their clients.