The Phillies are making re‑signing Kyle Schwarber a top offseason priority. Schwarber is in the final year of his current four‑year, $79 million contract, and the front office—led by Dave Dombrowski—has publicly affirmed their desire to retain him.
Schwarber has put up strong power numbers this year, including nearly 50 home runs, which has increased his leverage in free agency. Because of that performance, projections have him commanding a four‑year deal in excess of $120 million. Analysts argue that even though Schwarber will be 33 at the start of the new contract, the combination of his power, fan appeal, and current form make such a deal reasonable.
There are competing narratives, though, about what the Phillies should do. Some voices argue for offering Schwarber an extension now instead of letting him hit free agency; others say they should wait and make their strongest bid then. Some of the discussion also centers on whether Schwarber will test the market, and whether other teams will put in aggressive offers.
Apart from Schwarber, Philadelphia has been linked to other sluggers. One is Cody Bellinger, who is projected by some to land a four‑year, $112 million deal if he becomes available. Another is Anthony Santander, fresh off a 44‑home run season and projected to sign a deal around four years, $60‑$90 million, depending on fit.
The fan and media sentiment seems strong: letting Schwarber go would risk backlash (“mutiny among the fanbase,” in some phrasing), especially given how much he’s contributed both at bat and in leadership/clubhouse presence.
Financial and age/risk factors are part of the counterarguments. While Schwarber’s power has held up, concerns persist about decline, potential injuries, and defensive limitations (especially since he’s been more of a DH/part‑time in the field). Some believe that these reduce how many guaranteed years teams will offer or inflate the per‑year cost.
In sum, most projections have the Phillies either offering or being prepared to offer a four‑year contract north of $100 million (some estimates well above that) to keep Schwarber; if they don’t lock him down, they could pursue other sluggers as alternatives. The upcoming offseason is likely to see a strong push by Philly to retain their power bat.
