Philadelphia Phillies reportedly engaged in ‘broad contract extension talks’ with multiple-time All-Star
It was a surprisingly quiet free agency for the Philadelphia Phillies. For the first time since the 2016-17 season, they didn’t sign any free-agent players to multi-year deals.
Instead, they gave one-year prove-it deals to outfielder Max Kepler (who had eight home runs for the Minnesota Twins in 2024) and reliever Jordan Romano (a two-time All-Star who was non-tendered by the Toronto Blue Jays due to elbow issues in his pitching arm).
It was frustrating for Phillies fans who had hoped for a big free-agent splash who could upgrade an offense that can disappear for multiple games at a time — including in their NLDS loss against the New York Mets.
Instead, the Phillies will continue to rely on their high-priced heavy hitters in Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber, and J.T. Realmuto.
Despite not making any significant offensive upgrades this past offseason, both Schwarber and Realmuto will be free agents after the season. Both players are hoping to stay, but will the Phillies pay to keep them?
A team insider has revealed an update on contract extension talks for one of those impending free agents.
According to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, the Phillies are speaking to Schwarber’s camp to keep him in Philadelphia beyond 2025. Schwarber is in the last year of a four-year, $79 million deal.
“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,” Gelb reports.
Schwarber has become one of the best leadoff hitters in the game, but he’s not a prototypical one. He strikes out nearly 30% of the time and is not a threat on the bases. However, during his three years in Philadelphia, he’s gotten on base at a 34% clip, has walked 318 times, and is one of the top home-run hitters in the game, blasting 131 bombs.
Schwarber has made it known that he wants to continue his career with the Phillies.
“I’ve enjoyed my time so much,” Schwarber previously told Sports Talk Philly. “I was with the Cubs for how many years, and then I signed the one-year deal with Boston. Being here, it feels like home now. I’d love to keep that going for as long as I can. Hopefully we can win multiple World Series in the years to come.”
Schwarber will be 33 years old at the start of the 2026 season. He’s mainly a designated hitter at this point but could receive a contract similar to what the Los Angeles Dodgers gave Teoscar Hernandez — three years, $66 million.
Schwarber has been a clubhouse leader and a franchise cornerstone the last three seasons. According to Baseball Reference, he is projected to hit 36 home runs with an .812 OPS this upcoming season. With that kind of production and leadership, the Phillies would face a significant void if they let him walk in free agency.
