The hottest topic on the Phillies’ hot stove is what to do with Kyle Schwarber. And that topic is going to be the focus of every Phils fan until the decision is made.

His tenure in Philadelphia

Schwarber has been the glue of the lineup since the day he arrived. When Philadelphia signed him to a four-year, $79 million deal before the 2022 season, they were betting on his power and veteran presence. Four years later, Schwarber has delivered exactly that.

His 2025 season was his best. He hit 56 home runs, the second most in franchise history behind Ryan Howard’s 58 in 2006, while driving in 132 runs and registering a .928 OPS. The numbers were backed up by Statcast, posting a .601 expected slugging percentage, 20.8% barrel rate, a 77.3 mph bat speed and a 14.9% walk rate — all within at least the 97th percentile in the league.

While Schwarber’s offense was everything the Phillies hoped for, his defense was never the reason they signed him. Originally brought in to play left field, Schwarber struggled badly in the outfield and eventually became the full-time designated hitter. Over his first two seasons in Philadelphia, he posted minus-22 Outs Above Average — one of the lowest marks in baseball.

Still, his bat has made up for it and then some. Schwarber hit 187 home runs, drove in 434 runs, and was one of the most consistent power hitters in the game. Beyond the numbers, he’s become a core leader and a tone-setter inside the clubhouse.

That leadership extends beyond the field. Schwarber’s “Neighborhood Heroes” foundation has become a fixture in the Philadelphia community, supporting first responders, military personnel and their families through wellness programs and crisis support. His annual “Schwarber’s Block Party” raises money for organizations like the Philadelphia Fire and Police Department Foundations. The son of a former police chief, Schwarber has made it a mission to give back — earning the Phillies’ Major League Community Service Award in 2024 for his efforts.

That kind of presence has made him more than just a power bat. He’s become a part of Philadelphia’s identity.

That leadership shows up in October, too. Schwarber hit 14 postseason home runs with a .567 slugging percentage in 38 games with the Phils, including two in Game 3 of this year’s NLDS.

That series, though, exposed one of the team’s biggest problems. The Phillies’ inability to put the ball in play and get on base against the Dodgers showed just how much swing-and-miss existed in the lineup. They reached base at only a .299 clip and struck out nearly 10 times per game in the four-game set.

And Schwarber, as productive as he was, reflects that same give-and-take. If there’s one thing to pick apart in his game, it’s the lack of contact that comes with being a slugger. In 2025, Schwarber ranked in the fifth percentile in whiff rate and the 11th percentile in strikeout rate.

Offseason outlook

His market will be intriguing. Multi-year financial commitment to full-time designated hitters is especially rare. Several DH’s make more than $20 million per year, and after the season Schwarber just had, a shorter deal with a higher annual salary feels likely. Something around three or four years in the $30 million a year range might get it done for a 32-year-old slugger still producing at an elite level.

“He brings a lot,” Rob Thomson said in the end-of-season press conference. “We’ve talked about it for four years — his calmness, professionalism, experience, how he can talk to younger players when they’re scuffling. He’s a huge piece in that clubhouse. If we lost him, hopefully other guys have learned from him and can carry it on. But hopefully we don’t.”

Kyle Schwarber is officially on the market as a free-agent and as Dave Dombrowski states, it’s a priority to bring back the designated hitter.

Losing Schwarber wouldn’t just mean replacing his presence. It would mean rebuilding the Phillies’ offense from its core. When you remove 56 home runs and 132 RBIs from a lineup, that production has to come from somewhere. A more contact-driven approach could reshape the team’s identity, with free agent Josh Naylor standing out as a potential fit. The 28-year-old lefty first baseman hit .295 with 20 homers, 92 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 2025, offering some power with a more consistent bat-to-ball profile. He also brings the flexibility to play first base — something that could give Bryce Harper occasional days off his feet. A right-handed power hitter in conjunction with Naylor could help offset the loss of Schwarber’s run creation.

But, a reunion still makes too much sense. Schwarber has become one of the faces of the franchise.

“We’d love to bring Kyle Schwarber back,” President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski said. “It’s a priority for us. He knows it. But he’s a free agent, and you never know what happens.”

Prediction

The Phillies bring Schwarber back on a four-year, $120 million deal. He’s become the heart of this team, and both sides know it.