The Philadelphia Phillies have received discouraging news regarding their attempt to re-sign star slugger Kyle Schwarber.
Schwarber is one of the top free agents on the market, and the Phillies had publicly stated that bringing him back was a major offseason priority. However, according to MLB insider Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the team and Schwarber are “not close” to an agreement.
Zolecki reported that Schwarber’s representatives are looking to maximize the value of his standout 2025 season, during which he finished second in NL MVP voting behind Shohei Ohtani. With that kind of year behind him, his camp is in no rush to settle on a deal. Still, the slow pace of negotiations has caused concern among fans and raised questions about how long Philadelphia can wait.
While talks with the Phillies stall, Schwarber has begun to attract interest from other clubs, including the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds. Zolecki noted that it would be surprising to see Pittsburgh make an offer large enough to lure Schwarber away, and while the Reds remain linked to him due to his Ohio roots, it is unclear whether they would outbid Philadelphia.
Schwarber has played the last four seasons with the Phillies.
Schwarber Mentions Possibility of Joining Reds
Although many expected Schwarber to re-sign with Philadelphia at the start of free agency, he recently acknowledged that he would listen if the Cincinnati Reds—his hometown team—came calling.
“I grew up going to games there,” Schwarber said. “I think the kid in me would be excited. When your hometown team is interested, you have to listen. You keep options open and see where things go.”
If Schwarber were to leave for Cincinnati, it would deal a major blow to the Phillies’ offense. The lack of progress in negotiations makes the scenario more realistic than some expected.
Schwarber is coming off a season in which he hit .240 with 56 home runs and 132 RBIs.
Phillies Still Hoping to Bring Schwarber Back
Following their postseason exit, Philadelphia quickly turned attention to roster decisions, with Schwarber’s future being one of the key issues. President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made it clear that the organization wants him to remain a Phillie long-term.
“We’d love to keep him for the long term,” Dombrowski said. “He’s putting up huge numbers, and I know other teams will be interested, but we hope it works out.”
Schwarber is a three-time All-Star.
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