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Phillies' Dave Dombrowski Breaks Silence on Kyle Schwarber Extension Talks

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matthew Sullivan | Last updated Apr 21, 2025 11:40 AM ET

Kyle Schwarber is in the final year of his contract and is expected to get another large payday in his age-33 season. Since joining the Philadelphia Phillies, not only has Schwarber been a fan favorite, but he's also been one of the best power-hitters in baseball.

In a recent interview, Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski broke his silence on the ongoing extension talks with Schwarber.

On MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM, Dombrowski was asked about the ongoing extension talks with Schwarber. His answer provided clarity on where he stands, while also expressing desire to retain him.

"We hope to keep him to be a Phillie for years to come. You can be assured of that... But he is a guy we'd like to stay. Not only because of the ability, but because of the other parts he brings to the club... The intangible aspect of it is off the charts, and one of the best I've ever had on a ball-club."

The praise from Dombrowski paints a clear picture: he wants to keep Schwarber in Philadelphia. While the ongoing negotiations have been private, and that privacy has been slightly concerning, the comments from Dombrowski are a great sign for the odds of Schwarber returning to the Phillies after 2025.

Dombrowski also provided details on why the contract negotiations aren't well-known. "Contract negotiations always keep that internal, because I just never found any benefit from talking about it publicly."

Schwarber has been one of the best hitters on the Phillies since his arrival. Since 2021, Schwarber has 6.4 WAR, 383 hits, 318 runs, 62 doubles, four triples, 302 RBI, and 131 home runs in 1,735 at-bats.

Across his first three seasons, Schwarber has a .221 batting average, a .344 on-base percentage, a .488 slugging percentage, and an OPS of .832. He also has 612 strikeouts to 318 walks.

In 2025, Schwarber has gotten off to a hot start. He has 21 hits in 78 at-bats, with 18 runs, seven home runs, and 16 RBI. He's hitting .269 with a 1.001 OPS, and a nearly even walk-to-strikeout ratio of 19-20.

Schwarber's upcoming contract will likely net him a little over $20 million annually, and with his strong start to 2025, his return is all the more important to the Phillies. With the recent quote from Dombrowski on Schwarber, there is a lot more positivity surrounding a Schwarber extension than there was previously.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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