We now know why Kyle Schwarber didn’t sign with the Reds in free agency originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cincinnati Reds found themselves in relatively unfamiliar territory. They were bidding for one of the top free agents in baseball.
Advertisement
Kyle Schwarber was different, though. He’d be making a homecoming if he signed with Cincy. And man, the Reds could certainly have used his immense power.
In the end, Schwarber re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Reds evidently didn’t blow him away with a final offer.
Cincinnati settled later in free agency for filling its power need by signing old friend Eugenio Suarez, which could work out nicely. But he’s no Schwarber.
MORE: Reds reportedly sign 12-year old for $2.8 million
Now, a new story in the Cincinnati Enquirer has added insight into what may have stopped Schwarber from signing.
Advertisement
This is what beat reporter Gordon Wittenmyer wrote:
“A source with knowledge of the process said Schwarber ultimately expressed concern over the Reds making a large enough commitment to him that it would hamper the team’s effort to keep a competitive roster together long-term.”
That certainly sounds like a reasonable worry for Schwarber. The Reds aren’t in one of the league’s biggest markets, and they aren’t usually a huge spender.
Sure, they’d go out of their way to add Schwarber because of the bonus of him being a local kid and filling their exact need.
But if they didn’t follow that up by making any other meaningful additions because they already had so much money tied up with Schwarber, that wouldn’t help him be on a World Series contender in the long run.
Advertisement
MORE: This Mets phenom ate 900 raw eggs in a month to develop his 100 MPH fastball
Whether it’s true or not is irrelevant. If it’s what Schwarber felt, that was good enough to prevent a deal from happening.
So the Reds move on without Schwarber, and he remains with the Phillies.
More MLB news: