The Philadelphia Phillies, much like their division rivals, the Atlanta Braves, appear poised for major roster changes this offseason. One key name drawing attention is Kyle Schwarber. Should the Phillies decide to move on from him, the adjustment could be especially strange for Bryce Harper.
“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.”
Philadelphia has already been cautioned about the potential risks surrounding Schwarber’s future.
“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. “This roster needs substantial changes. While unpopular and risky, the decision not to re-sign Schwarber represents the best chance for Dombrowski to shake up the roster, which is necessary at this point.”
As free agency approaches, Schwarber’s market value has been the subject of new projections.
“Spotrac projects a four-year $99.6 million contract for Schwarber, giving him an average annual value of $24.9 million,” wrote Blog Red Machine’s Stephen Parello.
Schwarber has more than justified the payday he is expected to command this winter. Over the past few seasons, he’s been among the league’s most dangerous hitters. Even if the Phillies choose to part ways, another team is almost certain to meet his steep price tag.