Should Phillies meet Kyle Schwarber's lofty asking price?

This trend isn't new — Schwarber hit just .125 in the NLDS against the New York Mets last year, calling his ability to perform in the playoffs into question. Then again, most of their lineup has failed to execute when the lights are brightest.

Could Kyle Schwarber give Phillies a discount?

Schwarber’s reported asking price for a new contract has also raised concerns. He’ll be 33 in March and is seeking five years and somewhere between $25M-$30M per year, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber. It's an unprecedented amount for a bat-only player.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported in September that Schwarber "isn't going anywhere" and the Phillies refused to be outbid for his services. But between his recent postseason woes and lofty asking price, it's not absurd to wonder if their tune has changed.

That said, Schwarber, who was emotional during his postgame comments following the Phillies’ elimination, might be willing to give them a discount. It's clear that he cares about the team and its fans, and by all accounts, is a clubhouse leader. Losing him would be detrimental in more ways than one.

Even without a discount, Philadelphia should try its best to keep Schwarber. They don't have an obvious replacement for him at the moment, and it's hard to argue against the 187 home runs, 434 RBI and .856 OPS he's produced over his four seasons with the team.