A growing disconnect between the Phillies’ plan and Kyle Schwarber’s free agency ambitions threatens to complicate contract talks. DD
What’s the rush?
The Philadelphia Phillies‘ main priority this offseason is to re-sign Kyle Schwarber. The designated hitter had a career-best season in several offensive statistics, including home runs (56), RBIs (132), runs (111), and slugging percentage (.563).
Schwarber was unquestionably the Phillies’ best hitter in 2025. He delivered time and again and has arguably become as valuable as anyone else in their lineup.
The Phillies, obviously, have a sense of urgency in getting Schwarber to agree to a new contract. However, his agency Excel Sports Management and Casey Close, the agent handling his negotiations, don’t want to sign as quickly (subscription required) as the front office is hoping for, according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb.
Kyle Schwarber appears to be in no rush to sign despite Phillies’ urgency
Following spending 2021 with the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox, Schwarber and the Phillies did not finalize his four-year, $79 million deal until March 20, 2022, 11 days before Opening Day. It’s a reminder of how long an agreement can take. It appears to be very early in the negotiation process if Schwarber doesn’t end up signing his next contract until March.
The Phillies prefer to avoid a lengthy negotiation, but Schwarber and his agent would like to see what his market is like.
“..the Phillies would prefer to avoid a protracted negotiation,” Gelb writes. “They have made it clear they want to re-sign him (Schwarber). Yet from his camp’s perspective, there is no rush. Free agency is a chance to explore the market, to wait out potential suitors as the offseason unfolds.”
Which other teams could be interested in adding the Middletown, Ohio, native, besides the Phillies?
According to Gelb, the Chicago Cubs, the club that drafted Schwarber, are prioritizing adding starting pitching. The Cincinnati Reds, his hometown team, may not want to spend all of their newly available money on one player.
The Red Sox prefer to keep their designated hitter spot open to rotate some of their hitters. That strategy may have to be altered if they bring back Schwarber, unless he plays more in left field than he has in the previous two years. Manager Alex Cora has made known he’d like to have Schwarber back, hitting “Schwarbombs” at Fenway Park.
The Texas Rangers are looking to reduce their payroll, putting a Schwarber signing in doubt. If the New York Mets move on from Pete Alonso, they may consider adding one of their division rivals‘ key players.
The reigning American League champion Toronto Blue Jays could be looking to make a huge addition if Bo Bichette is not re-signed. Toronto has also been rumored to be a suitor for Kyle Tucker. If that is the case, they are probably considering adding Schwarber. Even though he is a few years older than Tucker, Schwarber’s next contract is not projected to be for as many years or as costly.
Phillies willing to wait for Kyle Schwarber in free agency, but for how long?
Even though Philadelphia may prefer not to have Schwarber’s contract situation drag on until the middle or end of winter, Gelb notes that they are willing to wait while he and his agency assess his value. The Phillies consider him a huge part of their club in the present.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski spoke about Schwarber’s free agency during the GM Meetings in Las Vegas last week.
“People understand that you’re not showing all your cards all the time, right?” Dombrowski said, according to Gelb. “You’re at least being straightforward enough to know what we’re trying to accomplish, but I don’t know if we’ll be able to accomplish that. And then if not, we’re moving on to Plan B.”
The potential problem is if the Phillies wait too long and Schwarber doesn’t re-sign. What then? Will any of the other big stars such as Tucker, Alonso, Cody Bellinger, and Alex Bregman still be available?
It’s possible that Philadelphia will not have to wait that long for a decision from the NL MVP runner-up. First baseman Josh Naylor has already re-signed with the Seattle Mariners on a five-year deal, so things are starting to move.
While it remains unclear when or if a Schwarber re-signing will happen, Phillies fans should still have confidence that he will agree to a new contract to keep him in Philadelphia for the next four to five seasons. However, Dombrowski should be ready to pivot to his Plan B in case the unexpected occurs and they need to find a replacement.
