The Philadelphia Phillies are heading into what promises to be an eventful offseason as they weigh which players to retain and which to let test free agency. One of the key storylines will be the future of Kyle Schwarber — even though team insiders have advised against bringing him back.
“The Phillies should avoid re-signing Schwarber to a long-term deal. Letting him walk would hurt the lineup’s power, and the front office would need a clear plan to replace his home runs.
But if they commit to multiple years and he starts to decline, that’s another risk entirely,” wrote Matt Grazel of That Ball’s Outta Here. “This roster needs major changes. As unpopular as it may be, letting Schwarber go might be Dombrowski’s best move to truly shake things up — and that’s exactly what this team needs.”
Should Schwarber depart, Philadelphia could pivot toward a big swing in free agency — namely, pursuing Kyle Tucker.
“Their championship window may be narrowing, but signing a premier free agent could extend it. Tucker would be a strong alternative if they lose Schwarber and would keep them among the NL East’s elite heading into 2026,” noted Sports Illustrated’s Kurt Bishop.
Tucker, meanwhile, hinted at uncertainty regarding his own future, making a return to Chicago appear unlikely.
“We’ll see what happens. I don’t know what the future holds. If this is it, it’s been an honor playing with these guys. I wish everyone the best, wherever they end up,” Tucker said after the season.
If the Phillies manage to land Tucker, it would send ripples through the National League, solidifying them as a legitimate World Series threat. After several seasons of coming close, Philadelphia’s faithful believe Tucker might finally be the piece that gets them over the hump — and he’s poised to be one of the most sought-after names of the winter.
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