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After testing the free-agent market, Kyle Schwarber appears to be returning to the Philadelphia Phillies. On December 9, ESPN reported, citing sources, that Schwarber and the Phillies are finalizing a five-year, $150 million contract.
The Phillies faced the reality of losing Schwarber, their unmistakable clubhouse leader and a player widely respected across the league, after falling in the division series to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
His knack for delivering in critical moments carried Philadelphia through the 2025 season, culminating in a .240/.365/.563 line with 56 home runs and an NL-leading 132 RBIs, earning him a runner-up finish in MVP voting.
Nonetheless, the Phillies have reportedly avoided life without their slugger. On December 9, Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson spoke on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM and said the deal still needs a few final details, but he’s glad to have his star player back.
“It’s not quite done yet, but he is such an integral part of not just the team, but the city of Philadelphia,” Thomson said. “There’s a respect between him and the fan base. The fan base just loves him and all the things he does in the community.
“What he does in that team—to be able to slow the heartbeat down in the clubhouse when, you know, what’s hitting the fan—he can do it. He can do it collectively, and he can do it individually. He puts up numbers. He’s a great player and a great human being.”
Rob Thomson Talks Kyler Schwarber’s Impact on the Phillies
Moreover, Thomson went into detail about Schwarber’s veteran leadership and how he’s impacting the young players on the team. Philadelphia can be a tough market to play in, and Schwarber, with his experience playing in Chicago as well, can relay that to his younger teammates.
“He’s been through it so much,” Thomson added. “It’s a tough game, as we know, and we’ve been through it as much as he has. He probably made a lot of the mistakes—most of the mistakes that everybody makes. I think he knows how to put his arm around young guys.
“The same goes for the older players: just calm them down, bring them back to Earth, help them understand that it’s 162. It’s a long year, there are going to be ups and downs, and you just have to stay even-keeled on a day-to-day basis.”
What Are the Phillies Bringing Back
Since joining the Phillies in 2022 on a four-year, $79 million deal, Schwarber has delivered consistent power, hitting at least 38 home runs each season. This year marked a career first as he played all 162 games, joined an elite group of 21 MLB players to hit four home runs in a single game, and ranked among just five players with 100 or more walks.
Additionally, during four seasons with the Phillies, Schwarber hit 14 home runs in 38 postseason games and was a constant on-base threat near the top of the lineup.
Six of those homers came during the 2022 World Series run, which ended in six games against Houston. As the Phillies entered the offseason looking to retool a playoff-stalled team, losing Schwarber proved too costly, even with multiple teams chasing him.
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. He previously covered the league for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has contributed as a freelance writer for The Sporting News. He also served as an editor for Athlon Sports and Heavy Sports focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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