The Phillies, once more, packed up early in October. Four games. That’s all it took for the reigning champs, the Los Angeles Dodgers, to slam the postseason door shut on Philadelphia’s 2025 dreams. And now, as the dust settles and the sting of another missed opportunity starts to fade (or not), everyone’s asking the same question: What happens next?
Schwarber’s Regular Season Was Historic
At the center of it all is Kyle Schwarber.
The man was a monster in the regular season — let’s not kid ourselves. Fifty-six homers. That’s just two shy of Ryan Howard’s all-time franchise record. And 132 RBIs in this day and age is borderline video game numbers. And it wasn’t like he was being babied in the lineup — Schwarber played all 162 games.
We’ve seen this movie before, where Schwarber crushes fastballs from April to September, and then when the lights hit brightest in October, something just doesn’t click. Sure, he launched two bombs in Game 3 — and let’s give credit where it’s due — but batting .188 with eight strikeouts in 18 plate appearances? It’s not exactly clutch. And if we’re being honest, last year was even worse. .125 against the Mets in the 2024 NLDS. The trend is what it is.
A Massive Price Tag for a DH-Only Player
Now we enter the awkward phase — the contract talks. Schwarber’s about to hit free agency. He’ll be 33 in March, and he reportedly wants five years and somewhere between $25 to $30 million per year. For a guy who doesn’t play the field. That’s steep.
But here’s the twist — reports say the Phillies “won’t be outbid.” Bob Nightengale doubled down on that in September. The team loves Schwarber. Fans love Schwarber. And, by all accounts, he’s one of the biggest leaders in that clubhouse. When he got emotional in his postgame comments, it wasn’t for show. He cares. And that means something.
Still, you have to wonder if the front office is feeling the pressure now. Postseason woes. Aging bat. High price tag. That’s a tough cocktail.
No Clear Replacement Waiting in the Phillies Wings
But the other side of this coin, The Phillies have no replacement. That kind of lefty power doesn’t grow on trees. Schwarber’s put up 187 home runs, 434 RBI, and an .856 OPS in just four seasons with the club. That’s elite-tier production, no matter how you slice it.
So could a discount be coming? Maybe. He loves this city. The city loves him. And hey — maybe that’s enough to make the numbers work.
But either way, the Phillies are at a crossroads. Run it back with their slugger and hope the fifth time’s the charm… or gamble on finding lightning in a bottle somewhere else.
