The Philadelphia Phillies could see Kyle Schwarber walk in free agency.
Schwarber completed his four-year, $79 million deal and is one of the top free agents available this season. The slugger has several teams after him, and he gave the Phillies bad news on a potential return.
While attending an event back home in Middleton, Ohio, Schwarber said he wants to spend more time at home, and he has been talking to his hometown team, the Cincinnati Reds.
“I grew up going to games here. I grew up sitting in the bleachers and watching a lot of games and I think the kid would be excited, right? You have your hometown team that’s calling,” Schwarber said. “But also being in the profession and knowing a little bit more of the ins and outs, you always have to listen and keep different options open and let’s see what happens.”
It’s an intriguing comment from Schwarber, who gave some insight that the Reds are showing interest in him, and he has some interest in going home.
Schwarber hit .240 with 56 home runs and 132 RBIs last season with the Phillies, showing the impact his bat can make. He’s a three-time MLB All-Star and one-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
What is Schwarber Expected to Get in Free Agency?
Schwarber is one of the top free agents available, and he will get a massive deal this offseason.
The slugger is the eighth-ranked free agent, according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, who projects Schwarber to a four-year, $128 million deal.
“I polled the industry on Schwarber’s deal, and expectations are roughly around four years at $30 million per year, though both figures could end up a bit higher,” McDaniel wrote. “Schwarber swatted 56 homers and had a .323 isolated power (slugging minus batting average) and a .414 xwOBA, which are all career highs. Because he has played just 13 games in the field over the past two seasons and is a soon-to-be 33-year-old designated hitter, his market will be much lower than you might expect for those power numbers. …
“If I were to give numbers for those three-, four- and five-year projections, it would be something like three years for $115 million ($38.3 AAV), four years for $128 million ($32 AAV) or five years for $135 million ($27 AAV). From Schwarber’s perspective, I’d probably take the four-year deal.”
Although Schwarber is more of a DH, he’s still one of the game’s best hitters, which is why his market should be robust.
Phillies Have Made a ‘Competitive Offer’ to Schwarber
Philadelphia is hoping to bring Schwarber back, and the team has already offered him an extension.
With the offseason underway, Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski said the team has made Schwarber a competitive offer.
“Kyle is a tremendous part of what we’ve built here,” Dombrowski said. “We made a competitive offer because we believe in what he brings — not only at the plate, but in the clubhouse, in October, and to the identity of this team. The ball is in his court now, and we respect that. …
“We want Kyle here. But we’re not in the business of forcing decisions or bidding against ourselves. We’ve put forward an offer that shows our commitment.”
Schwarber won the World Series with the Chicago Cubs in 2016.
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