Kyle Schwarber’s tenure in Philly has been a gift. He even started his acting career in Philadelphia, appearing on the hit show Abbott Elementary on Wednesday night. It’s no secret that the MVP candidate earned himself a pretty luxurious payday. He carried a 96-win Philadelphia offense that, outside of Schwarber and Harper, isn’t known for providing game-changing power. Schwarber fits any team that’s a left-handed power bat away from glory. On top of smashed baseballs, his value off the diamond is immeasurable for any clubhouse.
Top Suitors to Lure Kyle Schwarber from Phillies
It isn’t likely that John Middleton and the Phillies front office will let the veteran slip away. The reality is that an older DH like Schwarber doesn’t normally cost $130M+ to re-sign. The Phillies haven’t made postseason progress since 2022, leading to speculation that Philadelphia might use the same money to re-tool rather than give the vet five more years. John Middleton said he’ll match any offer to keep the beloved veteran on his payroll, but that doesn’t mean others won’t try to sneak in and deliver an offer too good to refuse.
TOP SUITORS
Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati, outside of Philadelphia, is the best fit, given that it’s his hometown. Sporting a talented young core around Elly De La Cruz, signing a left-handed bat like Schwarber is a no-brainer. Schwarber is from Ohio and grew up a Reds fan. He and his father even threw out the first pitch before the Phillies took on the Reds mid-season because Kyle’s father runs the area’s Little League programs.
Schwarber said:
“I’ve always said that at some point in your career, if you would ask the childhood Kyle what team you’d like to play for, it would be Cincinnati,” Schwarber said, per Rosecrans.” The Reds have the payroll to play around with, flexible enough to make a serious offer for sure. Playing closer to home could add some appeal for Schwarber, as could player-favorite skipper Terry Francona.
Boston Red Sox
Boston is probably one of Schwarber’s best options to win now. After moving on from Rafael Devers early in the 2025 season, Boston is salivating for a middle-of-the-order lefty bat and a player who can get on base. Schwarber’s walk rate, paired with his explosive swing, is the perfect fit. Fenway also provides the perfect scenario for pull-heavy hitters like Schwarber. Don’t forget this would be a reunion. If new leadership in Boston wants to close the gap with New York and Toronto while selling out Fenway, Schwarber’s production and personality would fulfill that.
Chicago Cubs
Another reunion destination. The Cubs could very much draw interest from the touted free agent. They will surely add a bat or two, and Kyle Schwarber made his name in Chicago, helping bring a long-awaited World Series to the organization. After a strong regular season plus a postseason bid, the Cubs will dream about pairing Schwarber’s bat with a young stud like Pete Crow-Armstrong.
The front office has been active in reshaping the roster but was quiet at the deadline, adding only a few small players. They could also lose some big names in FA, freeing up some cash. Wrigley’s friendly right-field dimensions fit like a glove for big-hit opportunities. Chicago is usually willing to spend when the path opens for a run, which it has. A stretch, but if the Cubs make a shiny offer and Kyle opts for a reunion, they could slot Schwarber as the designated hitter and shuffle Suzuki back to right field.
Detroit Tigers
Out of the three teams already listed, Detroit has the most compelling reason to make a push at Schwarber. With a growing young core featuring Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelsson, plus an opportunity to lock down Tarik Skubal in the coming months, Schwarber would be the missing piece. Even with no Skubal, the Tigers have been searching long and far for a proven veteran run producer to put in the middle of the lineup. They had a dominant first half and made a strong push in October. Signing Schwarber would put the Tigers over the top in the American League. Detroit has what it needs at its disposal to make a strong offer for Kyle Schwarber. Detroit isn’t too far from Ohio either, making it a dark horse location to lure the stud away from Philadelphia.
New York Mets
Steve Cohen has enough money to fill Citizens Bank Park and Citi Field to the brim with $100 dollar bills. Pride alone would make it hard for Phillies owner John Middleton to change Schwarber playing for the blue and orange, but he did say he’d match any offer to keep Schwarber in the city. As with Aaron Nola, it would be advantageous for Cohen and the Mets to drive up the price as high as possible, forcing Philadelphia to overpay or let him walk.
Houston Astros
It was a disappointing season in Houston as the usual postseason dominance was nowhere to be found. The team is old and right-handed, with Schwarber heavy. For years, the Astros have operated as one of the league’s top front offices. Calculating each move and building juggernauts in the American League.
The Astros might have no real shot at grabbing the veteran DH, but they won’t sit silently with that type of bat available. Expect Houston to make a big offer. Bidding on him forces other AL contenders like the Mariners, Rangers, and Red Sox to pay a premium. Driving up the cost could very much hinder rival teams in the AL from even bidding, raising it for others in contention as well.
DARHORSES
The Mariners and Rangers both appear on paper as perfect landing spots for Schwarber, but neither is as strong. Seattle has been dying for left-handed power to balance the lineup alongside Julio Rodriguez. Plus, deadline acquisitions Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez aren’t the same as locking down a guy like Kyle Schwarber. The Mariners are on the cusp of a World Series appearance. They’ve been reluctant to sign big-money veterans. The Rangers on the other hand have multiple guys heading out the building in this year’s free agency.
Signing Kyle Schwarber would allow Texas to keep its window open, avoiding a quick descent to the bottom after hoisting the trophy in 2023. Bruce Bochy’s departure likely hurt the team’s chances of landing Schwarber since he was a manager with a great reputation and a championship pedigree. Globe Life Field would play well for the lefties’ power. It’d be a stretch for Kyle to head as far as Seattle with his hometown in mind, also. Expect offers from these clubs, but nothing more.
Main Photo Credits: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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