The Philadelphia Phillies face significant questions this offseason, centered around which players will walk and which will be retained. The biggest name on the list is Kyle Schwarber, and even Bryce Harper admits that losing him would feel strange.
“I was talking to somebody the other day,” Harper told MLB.com. “And I was like, ‘Man, it would be weird not to have [Schwarber] in our clubhouse.’ He’s such a good leader. He’s such a good person in the community. Great family, great person. I think he’s a guy that obviously our team can build around. Obviously, he’s going to make a lot of money [as a free agent]. He’s going to be a very hot commodity on the market. He’s a guy that hits homers. He’s a great clubhouse guy and a leader. I hope he doesn’t get [to free agency]. He’s a guy that we can use for the next few years.”
Despite Harper’s praise, the Phillies have reportedly been advised to stay away from a multi-year deal with Schwarber.
“The Phillies should not re-sign Schwarber to a multi-year contract. Not signing him will hurt the club offensively and the front office would need to have a plan to replace the home run hitter. However, what if they bring him back for multiple years and he begins to decline? Either decision brings a certain amount of risk,” TBOH’s Matt Grazel wrote.
Prediction from The Athletic’s Jim Bowden suggests that Schwarber could end up with the New York Mets, breaking the hearts of Phillies fans.
“In addition to being one of the premier power hitters in the game, Schwarber is highly valued around the league for his clubhouse presence. Although he’s basically limited to the DH position, Schwarber offers consistency — he hit 56 home runs this year and has hit 40 homers or more in three of the last four years,” Bowden wrote.
Schwarber joining the Mets would feel like a crime for Phillies fans, but the business side of baseball makes anything possible. New York, coming off a disappointing collapse, could benefit greatly.
Schwarber would add another powerful bat to the lineup, potentially replacing Pete Alonso’s spot in the order. With Schwarber in the fold, the Mets’ offense could be booming.
