The Philadelphia Phillies face a major offseason decision with star designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.
Now in the final year of his four-year, \$79 million deal, the 32-year-old slugger is set to become a free agent after the season.
Given his explosive start to the year, Schwarber has likely positioned himself for a lucrative contract on the open market.
Through 59 games, Kyle Schwarber is putting together an outstanding season, slashing .266/.398/.584 with 19 home runs, 44 RBIs, 43 walks, and a stellar .982 OPS. His 170 wRC+ and 2.1 fWAR highlight just how impactful he’s been offensively.
Schwarber has solidified himself as a key fixture in the Phillies’ lineup, and his production hasn’t gone unnoticed—especially by Bryce Harper, who’s made it clear he wants Schwarber back in Philadelphia next season.
“I don’t see him playing anywhere else,” Harper said to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Obviously I don’t make those decisions. But as a team leader and a captain and everything else, he brings so much value to our team.”
Harper also raved about Schwarber’s evolution in the game of baseball, and his impact on the Phillies over the last four seasons.
“I have so much respect for Kyle and what he’s done in this game,” Harper said. “He’s become just such an impact bat, not just for our team but in all of baseball. He can hit a lefty, he can hit a righty, [hit] for power, everything else, so it’s been fun to watch. It’s been fun to be able to talk to him about things. I’m still trying to talk to him about how to pull a baseball into the seats.”
Kyle Schwarber joined the Phillies ahead of the 2022 season after six years with the Chicago Cubs and a split 2021 campaign between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox.
Since arriving in Philadelphia, Schwarber has elevated his game to new heights. He smashed a career-high 46 home runs in 2022, then topped it with 47 in 2023. He also drove in 104 runs in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons and has received down-ballot MVP votes in each of the past three years.
The Phillies, currently 36-23 and just one game behind the New York Mets in the NL East, owe much of their success to Schwarber. He leads the team in nearly every major offensive category—including home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, wRC+, and fWAR—underscoring his vital role in the lineup and making his impending free agency a pivotal storyline for the club.
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