Kyle Schwarber to the Reds? Manager Terry Francona comments
Cincinnati manager Terry Francona declined to reveal whether he has talked to Kyle Schwarber during the Reds’ pursuit of the Middletown free agent.
ORLANDO — One day after Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said he would let Kyle Schwarber speak for the Reds’ pursuit of the hometown free agent, Schwarber and the Philadelphia Phillies spoke.
They agreed to a five-year, $150 million deal that returns the Middletown slugger to the team he has spent the past four seasons helping lead to October, sources confirmed.
The Phillies, who waited for Schwarber to test the market before engaging in substantive talks, are believed to have beaten other teams’ offers in part by guaranteeing a fifth year for the two-time home run champ, who turns 33 in March.
Schwarber, who led the National League with 56 home runs and 132 RBIs this season, has answered questions since the summer about possibly signing with his hometown team. After making the playoffs for the first time in a full season since 2013, the Reds made the choice possible with a serious run for the lefty hitter who might have transformed their power-hungry lineup and augmented a strong clubhouse.
Since being drafted fourth overall by the Cubs in 2014, Schwarber has never finished a season with a losing record in 11 seasons in the majors – winding up in the playoffs 10 times with three different teams.