Phillies Stay or Go: Kyle Schwarber

Kyle Schwarber might be the most interesting free agent case that the Phillies have ever had. There are so many different ways to lean when it comes to returning to moving on with the slugger.

It is hard to argue against the MVP finalist.

Schwarber led the NL in three categories last year: games played (162), home runs (56), and RBI (136, also the most in the majors). Over four years in Philadelphia, Schwarber has hit 187 homers and has ranked among the league leaders in walks and on-base percentage. He was also named the NL Outstanding Player this season, voted upon by fellow MLB players as part of the MLBPA Players’ Choice Awards.

His low batting average and strikeout percentage are one thing, but his track record speaks for itself. He is a professional hitter. He is one of the best sluggers in Phillies history, and has been the centerpiece of this lineup since 2022, when he came on a four-year, $79 million deal.

He has a home run in every round of the postseason possible. In 11 MLB seasons, and has reached the postseason 10 times. He won the 2016 World Series with the Cubs. Schwarber is a straight-up winner.

Not just all of that, but he is the vocal leader in the clubhouse, as well.

“You make a lot of different relationships in the clubhouse,” Schwarber emotionally said following the season’s end in Game 4 of the NLDS. “You don’t know how it’s going to work out. You just make so many personal relationships with guys, and you spend how much time with these guys throughout the course of the year and they become family and you just never know how it’s going to go. These guys know how I feel about them. I got a lot of respect for the guys in here, the organization, the coaching staff, everyone, top to bottom. This is a premier organization, and a lot of people should feel very lucky that you’re playing for a team that is trying to win every single year, and you have a fan base that cares, and you have an ownership that cares, you have coaches that care.”

Schwarber, debatably, has been the most important player on this team over the last four years. When he goes, the team goes. He leads by example and with his voice and character.

And a positive thing about him is as the primary designated hitter, age is not all that important. Wear and tear will not knock down the 33-year-old because all he does is hit. Schwarber may play left field now and then, but 95% of the time, he is DHing.

However, the Phillies still need to get younger and cheaper. Schwarber does not fit that exact mold, particularly the money aspect.

He is going to get paid. Schwarber will likely become the 19th player to make over $30 million a year. All he does is hit. He is 33. That is, quite frankly, ridiculous. Schwarber is also looking for a long-term deal, which makes sense for a player well into his 30s. A four- or five-year deal would have him under contract until he is 37 or 38. The Phillies already have too many aging players until they are that age.

With younger slugging free agents like Kyle Tucker and Pete Alonso, who are cheaper alternatives that also play the field, is it really worth schlepping $30+ million a year for Schwarber?

FINAL VERDICT: STAY

Yes, it is.

Schwarber is too important to this team in different ways. And if you bring in Tucker or Alonso, you are filled with a hole either in the outfield, first base, or DH, and you cannot bring both of them in.

The Phillies are expected to offer Schwarber his qualifying offer of one year, $22.025 million, which he will certainly decline by the 4:00 p.m. ET on November 18 deadline.

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