Phillies Already Facing Massive Kyle Schwarber Decision

Schwarber, 32, entered play Thursday hitting .293 with a league-high five home runs and 11 RBI. He’s reaching base at a .420 clip and owns an incredible 1.152 OPS through 50 plate appearances.

By no means are we saying Schwarber is on pace for a 65-home run season or that he’ll record only the 13th instance of at least a 1.300 OPS. However, the two-time All-Star’s early performance should at least remind the Phillies what they potentially stand to lose in free agency.

MLB insider Jon Heyman said Thursday that he “won’t be shocked” if Schwarber and the Phillies eventually agree on a new contract.

“That deal has worked out great for them,” Heyman told Bleacher Report.

Schwarber earned a four-year, $79 million contract following the 2021 season. Remember, that was the last year before Major League Baseball instituted the universal designated hitter.

One of the best things the universal DH did in 2022 was, at least theoretically, add 15 more jobs. Schwarber has almost exclusively manned designated hitter dating back to Opening Day 2024, and his .851 OPS last year marked the third-best of his career.

If a team wants Schwarber, they can add him without overthinking the positional fit. Gone are the days of a National League team worrying about someone like Schwarber playing first base or how he’d fare as a corner outfielder.

The Phillies likely know Schwarber will be a popular name on the open market. What better time, then, for them to at least consider approaching their star slugger about staying in Philly?