The Cincinnati Reds made a real push to bring Kyle Schwarber home to Ohio, but their offer fell short and now the organization’s free agency approach is drawing questions from across the league.
Schwarber, who grew up in Middletown, Ohio, which is about 35 miles north of Cincinnati, signed a five-year, $150 million deal to stay with the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.
The Reds offered the slugger a deal in the range of five years and $125 million, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
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That was $25 million less than what both the Phillies and Baltimore Orioles put on the table.
The Pitch to Schwarber
Cincinnati made their interest clear long before the winter meetings even started.
The team invited Schwarber, his father, and his youth coach to throw out ceremonial first pitches when the Phillies visited Great American Ball Park back in August.
It was a clear signal that the hometown team wanted their guy.
The effort was there, but the money was not quite enough.
Schwarber had a monster season in 2025, leading the National League with 56 home runs while driving in 132 runs and posting a .240/.365/.563 slash line. He finished as the NL MVP runner-up and earned his third All-Star selection.
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The 32-year-old designated hitter was one of the most sought-after bats on the market, and teams lined up to make offers.
What This Means for the Reds Going Forward
What makes this situation more concerning is what Ken Rosenthal reported about the Reds’ plans from here.
Unlike the Orioles, who are expected to remain aggressive in pursuing other high-priced free agents like Kyle Tucker and Pete Alonso, the Reds are not expected to chase other big names this offseason.
According to Rosenthal, Cincinnati’s offer to Schwarber was tied to their belief that bringing him home would help drive ticket sales. The hometown connection made him a special case, not part of a larger spending spree.
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Looking Back at 2025
The Reds finished the 2025 season with an 83-79 record, good enough for third place in the NL Central and a Wild Card berth.
It was the first time they reached the postseason in a full season since 2013, which was a big step forward for the organization under manager Terry Francona.
However, their playoff run ended quickly as they were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Wild Card Series.
The roster showed promise with young talent like Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene leading the way, but the lack of a true power bat in the lineup was clear.
The Road Ahead
With Schwarber now off the board and the Reds not expected to pursue other expensive free agents, Cincinnati will likely have to get creative to improve the roster for 2026.
The trade market could become their best option to add offensive firepower without breaking the bank.
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The good news is that the young core is in place and the team knows how to win close games.
The bad news is that standing pat while division rivals make moves could mean falling back in the standings next year.