Kyle Schwarber signs five-year deal with Phillies

Schwarber was one of the best power hitters available on the market. Last season, he slashed .240/.365/.563 with a career-high 56 home runs in 724 plate appearances for a 152 wRC+. The 32-year-old finished second in National League MVP voting, only behind Shohei Ohtani.

It was the third time in the last four seasons that Schwarber has hit 45 or more home runs, hitting 46 in 2022 and 47 in 2023. His production dipped slightly in 2024, as he hit 38 home runs, but his 134 wRC+ in 2024 was better than his two prior seasons.

Schwarber was drafted fourth overall in the 2014 draft by the Chicago Cubs. He made his debut the following season and even earned a ring with the Cubs in 2016. Schwarber hit 38 home runs in 610 plate appearances with the Cubs in 2019, with his 119 wRC+ being the best of his career to that point.

That said, he never really figured it out until after he left the Cubs, as he signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals in 2021. Midway through the season, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox and posted a 145 wRC+ in 471 plate appearances.

Since joining the Phillies before the 2022 season, a season in which they made it to the World Series, Schwarber is slashing .226/.349/.507 with 187 home runs in 2,805 plate appearances.

The 32-year-old was never seen as an option for the Toronto Blue Jays. Last season, George Springer dipped into the fountain of youth and was one of the best qualified hitters in baseball, thanks in large part to slotting into the Blue Jays’ designated hitter role. Thankfully, it seems as if the Blue Jays’ priority is still Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette.

Schwarber was linked to both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds (his home town team), but it’s no surprise he’s returned to the team that finished with the best record in the National League East.