Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber is strengthening his case for NL MVP as the team heads into the postseason after clinching the NL East by a double-digit margin over the New York Mets.
“Schwarbs” is currently neck and neck with Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani for the National League home run crown, and his future has become a hot topic. Just as Mets fans are asking what’s next for Pete Alonso, Phillies fans are beginning to wonder the same about Schwarber: where will he be playing next year?
Some analysts believe the answer might surprise — and even shock — the Philadelphia faithful.
With October approaching and free agency on the horizon, speculation is heating up around the game’s biggest names — and Kyle Schwarber sits near the top of that list.
At the moment, the Boston Red Sox are viewed as the frontrunners to land the slugger if he and the Phillies can’t come to terms on a contract that properly reflects his value to Philadelphia.
“The Phillies did try to sign DH Kyle Schwarber before the start of the season, but the two sides never came close to reaching an agreement,” Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported.
Nightengale also noted that Philadelphia would likely need to commit to at least four years and more than $120 million to keep Schwarber. That projection was reinforced by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, who added, “Among those we spoke to, the consensus is that Schwarber should land a deal of four or five years for at least $30 million per season.”
Boston, of course, is no stranger to Schwarber. After being dealt from Washington to the Red Sox in 2021, he helped power the team to the ALCS, where they ultimately fell to the Houston Astros. In his 41 games with Boston, he impressed with a .291 average, seven home runs, and 18 RBIs.
Schwarber has made it clear that he’d like to remain in Philadelphia. But if the Phillies can’t meet his asking price, they risk losing not just one of their most dangerous bats — but a cornerstone of their lineup heading into 2026.