Kyle Schwarber’s 56 dingers in 2025 position him as the most potent bat on the free-agent market, and the Red Sox are reportedly in pursuit. So are plenty of other suitors, including some clubs you might not expect.

Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors reported on Tuesday that the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants could be in on Schwarber.

Cincy is a surprising team for Schwarber because they’ve never spent money on a free agent in the amount that Schwarber’s going to get paid. The Giants are surprising not for financial reasons, but due to roster fit. They already have a DH in Bryce Eldridge, and former Red Sox Rafael Devers is at first base. Nonetheless, Franco asserted that the Giants are monitoring Schwarber and would presumably be willing to trade Eldridge to create the positional space necessary.

Schwarber is from Ohio. He was born and went to high school in Middletown, which is less than an hour from Cincinnati. This would be the Reds’ appeal to Schwarber — a return home.

The Reds lack slug and could really use Schwarber, but again, as Franco made clear, the money aspect is probably a barrier.

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“It’d require an unusually bold commitment from (Reds) ownership,” Franco wrote. “Schwarber is expected to handily surpass a $100MM guarantee and could land $30MM+ annually. The Reds have given out two nine-figure contracts in franchise history: $225MM for Joey Votto and $105MM to Homer Bailey Those were both extensions. Their largest free agent deals were the matching four-year, $64MM terms to Nick Castellanos and Mike Moustakas. Those $16MM average annual values were the most for any multi-year free agent signing. Schwarber might require twice that amount.”

Schwarber is looking at something in the realm of $30 million AAV over four or five years. That’s too rich for the Reds if you trust their history, although it’s well within the wheelhouse of Buster Posey over in San Fran’s front office.

The Giants are among the teams that have checked in on Kyle Schwarber, as I just reported on @MLBNetwork.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 2, 2025

With MLB Network’s Jon Morosi also confirming that the Giants are interested in Schwarber, consider them a legitimate suitor to challenge the Phillies, Red Sox and others this winter.

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