Phillies Talk New Contract With ‘Unconventional’ $20 Million Leadoff Hitter
After he spent the second half of 2021 helping propel the underdog Boston Red Sox to the American League Championship Series, blasting seven home runs in just 41 games plus another three in the postseason, Kyle Schwarber signed a four-year, $79 million free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. In his three years in Philadelphia, Schwarber has continued to be one of MLB’s most dangerous deep threats, with 131 homers, including a league-leading 46 in 2022. He also has a talent for getting on base, leading the National League in walks with 106 in 2024. He drew 126 free passes the previous season.
The Phillies have qualified for the playoffs in all three years Schwarber has been there, and he has played a valuable role in all three playoff runs – including the team’s 2022 trip to the World Series, where they ultimately lost to the Houston Astros. Schwarber hit three home runs in that six-game series and slugged a total of 11 in 34 postseason Phillies games since joining the team. Now, according to a report by The Athletic, the Phillies would like more of what they’ve seen so far from Schwarber. “The Phillies and Schwarber’s camp have engaged in broad contract extension talks this spring, according to major-league sources, but nothing is perceived as imminent,” Matt Gelb of The Athletic reported on Friday.
