The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the best rosters in baseball, but they’re set to lose one of their best players in free agency if they’re not careful.
Slugger and MVP candidate Kyle Schwarber is headed to free agency at the end of the season, and the Phillies will be fighting an uphill battle to land a new contract this winter. Still, they need to prioritize it.
Sports Illustrated’s Patrick McAvoy recently urged the Phillies to re-sign Schwarber in free agency, citing Ken Rosenthal’s recent report on an expected contract value.
“Schwarber has played well enough that he’s going to cash in as well. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal projected that Schwarber could end up getting a deal in the four-year range with an annual value around $30 million per year,” McAvoy wrote. “This is the type of report that should have the Phillies, and National League East’s attention in general. He’s a guy who is in the mix for the National League Most Valuable Player Award this year. Any team would be lucky to have him.
“If the Philles keep him, there’s an argument that would maintain their position as the best team in the division. The New York Mets have a slugger of their own in Pete Alonso who could be a free agent as well. Schwarber will be among the free-agent market trend-setters this upcoming winter. His price point could indirectly impact what Alonso could get as a fellow prolific slugger in his 30s.”
Schwarber, alongside Bryce Harper, is the heart of the Phillies team. The Phillies can’t afford to lose him to another team this winter, no matter the price.
Philadelphia has the money to make a deal happen, even if it’s a four-year deal worth around $120 million. If Schwarber is going to continue slugging 40-plus home runs a season, he’s going to be worth well over $120 million for the next four seasons.