The Philadelphia Phillies are sticking with their veteran core in 2025, despite last fall’s frustrating playoff exit at the hands of the New York Mets. Rather than overhaul the offense during the offseason, the team chose continuity, banking on a better outcome with stars like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Nick Castellanos still leading the charge.
But this core may not be together much longer.
The biggest question mark is Kyle Schwarber, who has emerged as the Phillies’ most productive hitter this season. After signing a four-year, $79 million deal in 2022, Schwarber is set to become a free agent at year’s end unless an extension is reached. And with Schwarber currently leading the National League in home runs, there will be no shortage of interest if he tests the market.
Yet his situation isn’t without complications. At 32 years old and functioning almost exclusively as a DH, Schwarber could face the same cold market that Pete Alonso experienced this past offseason. Alonso, despite being a power threat, struggled to secure a long-term deal.
When asked whether Alonso’s experience gave him pause about his own free agency, Schwarber gave a telling two-word answer:
“Good question.”
He elaborated:
“I feel like I live on a daily basis, just like trying to get through the day and go from there. But this is where I feel like I’ve truly gotten to be myself and be the player I’m able to be.”
Schwarber clearly feels at home in Philadelphia, and given his success, it’s possible he’d prefer to stay put—even before hitting free agency. But for now, he’s staying focused on doing what he does best: slugging baseballs out of the yard.