The Kyle Schwarber Question

Kyle Schwarber is named 2025 All-Star Game MVP, after crushing 3 Schwarbombs to lead the NL to the victory.

Hey hey hey Basement Dwellers! The Dace Man here taking a break from Television and Movie reviews to dive into a conversation that has popped up on our Jersey Phanatics' podcast, damn near every episode this season. Now apologies that we’re on another extended break but we should return next week to get the entire Jersey Phanataics Crew view on this topic, but given his performance last night I thought it would be fun to write an article on my best friend.. Kyle Schwarber.

If you listen to the podcast, first of all thank you, but you are well aware Kyle Schwarber and I are far apart on his value to the Phillies. First and foremost, CUTCH all day erry day. I am a big fan of Andrew McCutchen, and his antics being the original vibe officer of the clubhouse, and none of your stats are going to change my mind that signing Kyle over Cutch made sense…even if my argument is illogical and wouldn’t have yielded great results. If you have only caught the episodes where Tyler was on you also know out of the two big signings that happened in 2022, I will die on the hill that Nick Castellanos was the better signing than Schwarber everyday.

Fast forward to day, the half way mark of the 2025 series. The Phillies are in first place in the NL East, barely, and Kyle was one of two Phillies named an all-star as opposed to the eight Phillies that went last year. After three years of frustration with Kyle Schwarber on my end he has made all the right moves and changes this season to make me eat my words. Of course, as one would expect, it also is Kyle’s final year of his contract with Philadelphia. With the front office unable to bring a deal to a close before the season began Kyle is set to hit the free agent market this off-season as one of the most valuable Designated Hitters. Let’s take a look at why I think Kyle will be wearing new colors in 2026 and beyond. Of course by putting this take into the ether, he will most likely sign a 6yr extension with Philly making me once again eat my words.

The Value of a Designated Hitter.

Kyle came to the Phillies the same time the DH spot was made permanent in the National League. The understanding at the time of the signings was that he and Nick Castellanos would platoon the Left Field and Designated Hitters position for the 2022 season and beyond. That of course was immediately derailed by the Bryce Harper injury that would completely reshape the team going forward. It’s crazy to think that we never got the true run of the Philadelphia Phillies line up as it was designed on paper in the 2022 offseason, that is a whole other article in and of itself.

Bryce would go on to dominate the Designated Hitter’s position for Kyle's first couple seasons, until Bryce ultimately pushed Rhys out of the picture, again a story for another time. Now when it comes to a valuable Designated Hitter I think they need to have the ability to supplement defensively if needed, and unfortunately Kyle is notoriously bad defensively…like everywhere. When he came out of the Designated hitter’s spot to play left field last season he ended up on the 10-day IL from over stretching his groin so even though Kyle has played more left field in 2025 he’s not exactly a reliable piece to put back in the field.

The other issue with the DH spot on the Phillies is, this team is aging, and more specifically Bryce is aging and not gracefully. Kyle is a DH, he will sign in the offseason for whatever team as a DH, even if it is back with the Phillies. This really kills team flexibility. Imagine if he could play catcher somewhat well allowing JT to stay in the line up instead of Marchan/Stubbs having to take an at bat or what if he could play first well enough to keep Bryce in the batting order rather than some combo of Sosa or Kemp coming in. That flexibility is frustrating and albeit not the end of the world but it would be nice to have a DH that can step in every 5 or 6 games and not cause a frustrating batting lineup.

This brings us to the point of value. Kyle is going to get paid, as he should, for that power. Defying the sands of time Kyle’s hitting and OBP has improved season over season. When looking at those stats and assuming he’s found the fountain of youth to be an offensive force for another 5 to 6 years, he absolutely can ask for those years and dollars. He will 100% get a huge contract this off season which begs the question, “Is Kyle Schwarber worth it?” when it comes to the Phillies front office. Payroll has seemingly been an issue even though there have been claims to the contrary. So is a designated hitter making 20 to 25 million a year for another 5 years in Philadelphia worth it when our next point looks at another team issue for Philadelphia Phillies.

Other Free Agents

I have said multiple times this year, you need to extend JT. Even if it’s only for two or three years we are at a point where JT needs to keep calling games. There’s plenty of data out there showing the struggles our pitching staff has when Marchan and Stubbs are behind the plate, which might not even be their fault, but there is a clear picture our starters perform better with JT behind the plate. Since we are locked in with 4 out of our 5 starters for the foreseeable future why not keep JT back there, especially since our next option on the farm is two to three years out. You are definitely sacrificing offense in preference to defense, but I propose the question “If Not JT, then who?” JT is the top of the catchers list in the free agency market this off season and even though Kyle is one of the top free agents overall, JT should be a priority.

Ranger Suarez closes out the 2022 NLCS with JT Realmuto sending the Phillies to their first World Series since 2009.

We’re also going to have a pitching problem. I fully expect Ranger Suarez to be on another team in 2026, hell I’ve said a couple times this year I expect him on another team by August of this year. Pending what Domborwski does before the trade deadline starting pitching isn’t a huge concern of mine, having Painter and Abel in the wings and the core four of Wheeler/Sanchez/Luzardo/Nola locked in for next year we only need a fifth starter, joining a group of men who are easily number ones and twos on most other teams. The bullpen however…yikes. The Bullpen has been a disaster this year with a few glimmers of hope here and there, with that being said we need to rebuild that bullpen before the trade deadline so who knows what it will look like by the close of 2025. Matt Strahm, Jordan Romano and Jose Alvarado are heading to free agency. Romano, goodbye not everyone can have the Hoffman rebound story here in Philly. Alvarado might get him cheap after he screwed up this season with the PEDs, however that is not guaranteed. Matt Strahm has definitely made a name for himself here in Philly so he should command a decent contract and could even get the opportunity to be a starter on another team or closer if he’s looking for consistency.

All this brings us back to the point of Kyle Schwarber’s impending free agency. He’s not the only hole that will be left on the team after our 2025 season. And in the list of priorities I personally do not believe he’s number one. So if he’s commanding money and years, where is the flexibility at catcher and the bullpen, or even the outfield we are not satisfied with, especially with Harper and Turner mega contracts still on the bill?

Overall, despite my continued razzing on our podcast, Kyle Schwarber is a HUGE reason the Phillies are even in the conversation this year for the playoffs. Bryce isn’t Brycing, and somewhere along the lines the daycare got super demoralized and the bullpen couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with a wrecking ball these days. He has acclimated to the Philly scene very well and is often considered one of if not THE locker room leader. His teammates want to see him finish up his career in the city of brotherly love and despite my personal feelings toward him, he’s one of the most popular Phillies in the city today.

The odds seem against the Schwarbarian staying here in Philadelphia despite the chatter from both sides of a desire to continue forward. His All-Star MVP appearance I’m sure tacks on a couple more million and a year or so to the deal he will get in the off season, and I think given the Phillies needs it would be a bad move to keep a Designated Hitter over other team upgrades. All this being said, if they win the World Series this year you re-sign every damn player and you don't change a damn thing so we can run it back in 2026.

So what do you think? Kyle here to stay or am I, as per usual, absolutely right in all matters regarding running Kyle Schwarber outta Philly?

Is this the last season for Kyle Schwarber in Philadelphia?

As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Basement Protocol. Remember, Basement Dwellers: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a Celsius —and in this case a Schwarbomb—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere at Basement Protocol. Until next time!