The Philadelphia Phillies are staring down a potential bidding war for Kyle Schwarber this offseason. The slugger’s heading to free agency after another strong season, and his market value keeps climbing. Early projections suggest the Phillies might need to go big to keep him.
We’re talking five years, $150 million territory here.
“He’s going to fetch a large payday, and the Phillies could have a number to shoot for to avoid him leaving for another team. That number could end up in the ballpark of five years, $150 million, averaging $30 million per year. Some experts are saying that he could possibly ask for higher,” TBOH’s Matt Davis wrote.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Not everyone thinks bringing Schwarber back is the right move for Philadelphia. Some analysts are warning against a multi-year commitment to the 31-year-old.
TBOH’s Matt Grazel put it bluntly: the Phillies shouldn’t re-sign Schwarber to a long-term deal. His reasoning? Age and roster flexibility.
“Not signing him will hurt the club offensively and the front office would need to have a plan to replace the home run hitter. However, what if they bring him back for multiple years and he begins to decline? This roster needs substantial changes. While unpopular and risky, the decision not to re-sign Schwarber represents the best chance for Dombrowski to shake up the roster, which is necessary at this point.”
That’s where things get really uncomfortable for Phillies fans. If Schwarber walks, the New York Mets are lurking as a logical landing spot.
Think about it. The Mets might be moving on from Pete Alonso, and they need power. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter laid out the scenario perfectly:
“If Alonso decides to walk after a frustrating offseason last year where he was unable to find the long-term pact he was seeking, the logical fallback plan might be to use Vientos at first base and to sign Schwarber to be the DH and replacement for Alonso’s power. The fact that the Mets would be stealing him from the division rival Phillies would only serve as further motivation.”
Schwarber in orange and blue? It’s not just possible – it makes sense.
The Mets need consistent power, especially if they’re saying goodbye to Alonso. Schwarber’s exactly that type of bat. He’s proven he can handle the pressure of a big market, and he’s got the track record to justify a significant investment.
What makes this scenario even more compelling is timing. The Mets are coming off a playoff run and they’re not looking to step backward. Steve Cohen’s shown he’s willing to spend, and stealing a key piece from a division rival would send a clear message.
For the Phillies, it’s a classic crossroads situation. Do you pay market rate for a player entering his thirties, or do you pivot and use that money elsewhere? Dave Dombrowski’s got decisions to make, and Schwarber’s contract could set the tone for their entire offseason approach.
The way I see it, thirty million per year for a DH is steep, but that’s the market now. Teams are paying for proven production, and Schwarber’s delivered that consistently. The question is whether the Phillies think they can get better value elsewhere.
All things considered, this feels like one of those situations where someone’s going to overpay. The Mets have the motivation and the resources. The Phillies have the history and the familiarity.
We’ll find out soon enough who wants it more.
