Is Kyle Schwarber’s departure from the Philadelphia Phillies a real possibility? Given that he has played a crucial role in the team’s success throughout his previous four seasons in Philadelphia, it seems unheard of, but we can’t completely rule it out.
In fact, former MLB general manager Steve Phillips identified the Cincinnati Reds as a possible destination for the slugger and believes there is a “good chance” that Schwarber will leave the Phillies.
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According to Phillips, Schwarber’s market will probably depend on who is prepared to give him an additional year. Although most people believe he will sign a four-year contract, Phillips believes Schwarber will sign with a team that is willing to give him a five-year deal.
The 32-year-old cut. 240/.365/.563 with 56 home runs and 132 RBI in 724 plate appearances while participating in every game in 2025.
After joining the Phillies in March 2022, Schwarber has had the best run of his major league career in the City of Brotherly Love, hitting more than 45 home runs in three of his four seasons there.
The Middletown, Ohio native spent the first six seasons of his career with the Chicago Cubs, where he made his major league debut in 2015. After a brief stint with the Washington Nationals in 2021, he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox in the middle of the season.
Over the course of his major league career, Schwarber has slashed.231/.346/.500. Despite his astronomically high strikeout rate, he makes up for it with exceptional power and a fantastic walk rate.
The former first-round pick’s inability to play the field is a drawback. Schwarber hasn’t excelled at any one position, having played catcher, outfield, and first base for a short while. As a result, now that he is in his 30s, he has settled as designated hitter.
Although Schwarber’s bat is so good that teams might be prepared to overlook his lack of defensive prowess, that could lower his price in free agency.
We’ll see if Philadelphia deems Schwarber imperative enough to re-sign even if it takes giving him a five-year pact.
The Phillies have been bounced from the NLDS each of the last two years, so changes should be coming for the squad this winter.
