Top Landing Spots For Free Agent Kyle Schwarber

The Major League Baseball offseason is right around the corner. With free agency set to commence five days after the final out of the World Series, there are some intriguing names in this year’s class of free agents.

Perhaps the most fascinating free agent is designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, who just completed a four-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. In case you somehow missed it, Schwarber had a contract year for the ages.

Schwarber set new career highs while leading the National League with 56 home runs and the majors with 132 RBIs. He hit .240 with a .563 slugging percentage, ranking fourth overall in MLB.

He helped carry the Phillies’ offense but also put the front office in a bind with his value soaring as high as ever heading into the winter.

The Phillies certainly got their money’s worth on Schwarber’s original four-year, $79 million deal. After salvaging his career with a solid 2021 bounceback season with the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox, Schwarber turned into one of the top preeminent power hitters in Philadelphia.

He slugged 187 home runs in his four seasons in red pinstripes. That’s tied with Shohei Ohtani for the second-most in MLB over that span, behind only Aaron Judge’s 210.

Schwarber’s underlying and advanced metrics are still elite, showing he’s not yet close to slowing down. His 77.3 mph bat speed was the fifth-fastest in the majors this year, as was his 94.3 mph average exit velocity. His 59.6% hard-hit rate was tops in baseball, while his 20.8% barrel rate trailed only Judge and Ohtani.

Free Agent Profile: Kyle Schwarber

• Age in 2026: 33
• 2025 Stats: 162 G, .240/.365/.563, 56 HR, 132 RBI, 152 wRC+, 4.9 fWAR
• 2025 Salary: $20 million
• Qualifying Offer Eligible: Yes

Contract Projection

• Contract Length Expectation: 4-5 years
• Expected AAV: $25-35 million ($30+ if contract length is 2-3 years)

Despite his jaw-dropping numbers and monster 2025 campaign, Schwarber’s free agency is an interesting case thanks to his age. He’ll be 33 heading into Opening Day in 2026. Regardless, the left-handed slugger will be looking for a rich multi-year deal. Some rumors have him looking for a five-year pact worth at least $150 million.

That’s an unprecedented amount of dough for a designated hitter who will be 38 by the end of the contract.

Schwarber might not get the five years. He may have to settle for four, with a higher annual salary. But that still seems like a long time to commit to a player who will eat up the DH spot and (likely) won’t continue this level of production for the full contract.

Schwarber will also come with a qualifying offer rejection attached to his price tag. It won’t be enough to deter his most voracious suitors, but it may give some teams pause before launching a pursuit.

Still, there are teams that will be willing to pay Schwarber a king’s ransom. Despite the potential red flags of a contract like this, whoever signs him will be expecting immediate production in 2026, at the very minimum.

So, which teams are the top landing spots for Schwarber? Let’s dig in.

Philadelphia Phillies

Someone’s going to pay Schwarber, and the Phillies look like the favorite right now. Despite looking at a potential $30 million-plus annual salary, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski almost has no choice but to bring back the beloved slugger.

Dombrowski has already gotten the go-ahead from managing partner John Middleton to run another hefty payroll in 2026. He has repeatedly said that re-signing Schwarber is a top priority, even after extension talks dissipated early this season.

The Phillies’ core of veterans is starting to get long in the tooth. They need to make changes to the lineup this offseason after another early playoff exit. Moving on from Schwarber doesn’t feel like the answer.

They still have a window to contend for a World Series and losing his production next season won’t help. How do you replace that offense, even if he doesn’t repeat his career year?

The answer is “not easily.”

And it’s not just the offense they’d lose if he signs elsewhere.

Schwarber has not only been integral in the batter’s box but also as a veteran leader in the clubhouse. Earlier this season Bryce Harper summed up why he wants Schwarber to stay.

“He’s such a good leader. He’s such a good person in the community. Great family, great person,” Harper told MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki in May. “I think he’s a guy that obviously our team can build around. … He’s a great clubhouse guy and a leader. I hope he doesn’t get [to free agency]. He’s a guy that we can use for the next few years.”

The Phillies also have hitting coach Kevin Long up their proverbial sleeve. Long and Schwarber have an extensive history working together dating back to their time in Washington. That relationship should help tip the scales in the Phillies’ favor as Schwarber evaluates all the variables in free agency.

It seems like a reunion between the Phillies and Schwarber is a match made in heaven. They just need to get it done. At least the Phillies won’t be penalized for re-signing him after he rejects their qualifying offer.

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox, Schwarber’s former employer, won’t hesitate to throw their hat in the ring. Word is that Boston will jump at the chance if the Phillies don’t get something done quickly, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. Manager Alex Cora and the Red Sox love Schwarber.

Schwarber was only in Bean Town for a short stay after being acquired from the Nationals at the 2021 trade deadline. He certainly made an impact in his two months, helping the Red Sox get back to the postseason after missing the previous two years.

In 41 regular-season games, he slashed .291/.435/.522 with seven home runs, 18 RBIs and 145 wRC+. In the playoffs, Schwarber hit just .205 with a .718 OPS but hit three home runs, including his grand slam in Game 3 of the ALCS. The Red Sox could have used his bat this postseason against the New York Yankees in the Wild Card.

Schwarber loves hitting at Fenway Park, slashing .344/.478/.644 with six home runs and nine doubles in 26 career games.