Kyle Schwarber Faces Uncertain Future as He Enters Contract Year with Phillies
As Kyle Schwarber prepares for his fourth season with the Philadelphia Phillies, his long-term future with the club remains uncertain. The veteran slugger is entering the final year of his four-year, $79 million contract, making him eligible for free agency at the end of the 2025 season.
At 32 years old, Schwarber has already experienced several transitions throughout his Major League career. Originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs, he played a pivotal role in breaking the franchise’s 108-year championship drought with their 2016 World Series victory. However, after struggling offensively in the shortened 2020 season, the Cubs opted not to bring him back, leading to his departure in free agency.
“You think that this is it … You think that team’s gonna last forever, but there’s a business side to baseball,” Schwarber recently said in an interview with “Foul Territory,” reflecting on his exit from Chicago.
That decision proved costly for the Cubs. Since leaving Chicago, Schwarber has established himself as one of baseball’s premier power hitters. Over the past four seasons, he has posted a .229/.350/.500 slash line while averaging 41 home runs, 93 RBIs, 99 runs, and 96 walks per season. Only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have hit more home runs during that stretch.
While the Cubs have yet to return to the postseason since parting ways with Schwarber, he has made the playoffs every year since, including three consecutive trips with Philadelphia. However, despite reaching the National League Championship Series in back-to-back seasons, the Phillies have fallen short of their ultimate goal—a World Series title.
The stakes are high for Schwarber and the Phillies this season. If Philadelphia finally gets over the hump and wins a championship, team president Dave Dombrowski could opt to extend Schwarber’s contract. Dombrowski followed a similar path in 2018 when he rewarded several key players from the Red Sox’s World Series-winning team with long-term deals.
However, if the Phillies once again come up short or Schwarber struggles at the plate, he could be looking for a new home next winter. With his track record of producing in big moments and providing much-needed power in the lineup, Schwarber would likely draw significant interest on the open market.
For now, the focus remains on 2025. Whether this season ends with a championship celebration or another postseason disappointment, it could mark the final chapter of Schwarber’s tenure in Philadelphia.
