The Phillies’ franchise star wants to keep another left-handed power bat in the lineup for years to come.
Slugger Kyle Schwarber is in the final season of a four-year contract he signed with Philadelphia in 2022. He’s been a monster at the plate throughout his tenure, and that continued with a two homer game in Cleveland on Sunday.
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When speaking about Schwarber recently, Harper made it clear where he stands on offering him an extension – and where Phillies leadership apparently agrees.
“I don’t want him to go anywhere else,” Harper told MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. “That’s not me saying anything to ownership or Dave (Dombrowski). Obviously, they want him too. And I think he wants to be here. I think he likes the community. He likes where he lives.”
After three seasons together, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber have recently lined up back-to-back in the lineup. It’s worked very well for the latter, who is off to arguably the hottest start in his entire career.Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Schwarber has been on a tear to begin 2025, with 14 home runs, 32 RBI, a .997 OPS, and some ridiculous splits against left-handed pitching. Compared to other deals signed the same year, such as Kris Bryant’s disastrous contract with the Colorado Rockies, his $79 million price tag over four years has been an absolute bargain.
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He’s set to get more than that figure with his next deal – and Bryce is hopeful that it happens before Kyle hits free agency this fall.
“It would be weird not to have him in our clubhouse,” Harper said. “He’s a guy that hits homers. He’s a great clubhouse guy and a leader. I hope he doesn’t get there. He’s a guy that we can use for the next few years.”
‘A guy that hits homers’ is an understatement for Schwarber – only Aaron Judge has more than the 145 (or 157 counting playoffs) Schwarbombs that have been launched since the start of 2022.
The Phillies contending window is still open, and extending Schwarber could help keep it that way for longer. While it ultimately depends on what ownership is willing to spend, having the support of your MVP-caliber star is an important sign of which way they’ll lean.
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