As the Philadelphia Phillies look to finally push past recent postseason heartbreak and contend for a World Series title in 2026, few moves will carry more weight than what they do with their powerhouse slugger and reigning National League MVP runner-up, Kyle Schwarber.
The 32-year-old designated hitter is set to hit unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career, and after a monster season that saw him finish second in MVP balloting, his price tag is expected to reflect elite status.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller recently forecasted that Schwarber will indeed stay in Philadelphia, inking a substantial five-year pact worth $132 million.
“If the designated hitter extraordinaire does wind up leaving the City of Brotherly Love, a reunion with either the Cubs or Red Sox would make sense,” Miller wrote.
“Cincinnati or Detroit could also be logical, if either of 2025’s No. 6 seeds is actually in the market for a nine-figure contract. But as was the case last winter with Pete Alonso and the Mets, it’s going to be kind of assumed Schwarber will return to Philadelphia until the moment he actually signs somewhere else. He will turn 33 before the 2026 season begins, but he only seems to be getting better with age. And if Xander Bogaerts could sign an 11-year contract after celebrating his 30th, maybe Schwarber could end up getting a six- or even seven-year deal.”
While contracts of that magnitude remain rare for primary designated hitters, so is the combination of Schwarber’s prodigious power and on-base skills at the top of a lineup. Few players in baseball history have posted an MVP-caliber season while spending the vast majority of their time as a DH, making his upcoming deal truly uncharted territory.
In Philadelphia, Schwarber has become far more than a stat-sheet contributor. Alongside Bryce Harper, he forms the emotional core of the roster and one of the most beloved figures in the city’s passionate fanbase. His tape-measure home runs, relentless plate discipline, and infectious energy in the clubhouse have turned him into a Citizens Bank Park icon.
Letting him walk would not only create a gaping hole in the middle of the lineup but would also deliver a gut punch to a fanbase that has embraced him as one of its own.
For a Philadelphia Phillies franchise that has invested heavily in recent years yet fallen short of the ultimate prize, keeping Schwarber feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity.
The front office knows the stakes: pay the man, lock in the heartbeat of the franchise, and signal to the rest of the league that 2026 is the year Philadelphia finally gets over the hump.