Kyle Schwarber staying with Phillies with five-year deal
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Kyle Schwarber staying with Phillies with five-year deal
Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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2 min read
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Kyle Schwarber, who hit a National League-best 56 home runs in 2025, is heading back to thePhiladelphia Phillies, agreeing to a five-year, $150 million contract Dec. 9, according to a baseball official familiar with the agreement. The official spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been finalized.
Schwarber, who turns 33 in March, closed out his four-year, $79 million contract with Philadelphia in epic fashion, setting a career-high in home runs and leading the major leagues with 132 RBIs to finish second in NL MVP voting. He averaged nearly 47 home runs and posted an .856 OPS in his four years with Philly.
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That set him up as one of the most coveted sluggers on the free-agent market this winter, and the Phillies decided they could not live without his peerless slugging ability and clubhouse leadership.
The commitment continues a mid-career renaissance for Schwarber, a star with theChicago Cubsand a member of their 2016 World Series champion club. But the Cubs non-tendered Schwarber after the shortened 2020 season.
Since then, it's been increasingly difficult to keep Schwarber in the ballpark.
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
2. Alex Rodriguez - 89.7
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
3. Adrian Beltre - 89.7
(Kevin Jairaj, Imagn Images)
4. Mike Trout - 87.5
(Joe Nicholson, Imagn Images)
5. Justin Verlander - 82.2
(Thomas Shea, Imagn Images)
6. Clayton Kershaw - 78.1
(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)
7. Mookie Betts - 75.2
(Tommy Gilligan, Imagn Images)
8. Max Scherzer - 74.7
(Brad Mills, Imagn Images)
9. Zack Greinke - 72.4
(Jasen Vinlove, Imagn Images)
10. Robinson Cano - 68.7
(Kelvin Kuo, Imagn Images)
11. Miguel Cabrera - 67.2
(Quinn Harris, Imagn Images)
12. Carlos Beltran - 65.1
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
13. Chase Utley - 64.6
(Scott Rovak, Imagn Images)
14. Freddie Freeman - 64.2
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
15. Paul Goldschmidt - 63.8
(Jeff Curry, Imagn Images)
16. Joey Votto - 63.6
(Michael McLoone, Imagn Images)
17. Roy Halladay - 62.4
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
18. Aaron Judge - 62.3
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
19. CC Sabathia - 61.8
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
20. Manny Machado - 61.7
(Denis Poroy, Imagn Images)
21. Ichiro Suzuki - 60
(Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images)
22. Mark Buehrle - 60
(Kyle Terada, Imagn Images)
23. Barry Bonds - 59.1
(Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)
24. Evan Longoria - 58.9
(Kim Klement, Imagn Images)
25. Chipper Jones - 58.3
(Darren Hauck, for USA TODAY)
1/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
1/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
2/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
2. Alex Rodriguez - 89.7
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
3/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
3. Adrian Beltre - 89.7
(Kevin Jairaj, Imagn Images)
4/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
4. Mike Trout - 87.5
(Joe Nicholson, Imagn Images)
5/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
5. Justin Verlander - 82.2
(Thomas Shea, Imagn Images)
6/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
6. Clayton Kershaw - 78.1
(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)
7/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
7. Mookie Betts - 75.2
(Tommy Gilligan, Imagn Images)
8/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
8. Max Scherzer - 74.7
(Brad Mills, Imagn Images)
9/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
9. Zack Greinke - 72.4
(Jasen Vinlove, Imagn Images)
10/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
10. Robinson Cano - 68.7
(Kelvin Kuo, Imagn Images)
11/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
11. Miguel Cabrera - 67.2
(Quinn Harris, Imagn Images)
12/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
12. Carlos Beltran - 65.1
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
13/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
13. Chase Utley - 64.6
(Scott Rovak, Imagn Images)
14/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
14. Freddie Freeman - 64.2
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
15/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
15. Paul Goldschmidt - 63.8
(Jeff Curry, Imagn Images)
16/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
16. Joey Votto - 63.6
(Michael McLoone, Imagn Images)
17/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
17. Roy Halladay - 62.4
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
18/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
18. Aaron Judge - 62.3
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
19/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
19. CC Sabathia - 61.8
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
20/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
20. Manny Machado - 61.7
(Denis Poroy, Imagn Images)
21/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
21. Ichiro Suzuki - 60
(Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images)
22/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
22. Mark Buehrle - 60
(Kyle Terada, Imagn Images)
23/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
23. Barry Bonds - 59.1
(Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)
24/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
24. Evan Longoria - 58.9
(Kim Klement, Imagn Images)
25/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
25. Chipper Jones - 58.3
(Darren Hauck, for USA TODAY)
He's hit 219 home runs since the start of the 2021 season, behind onlyAaron Judge(249) andShohei Ohtani(233). Schwarber's hit 340 homers in his career, and should pass the 400-homer plateau in 2027.
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Schwarber was also lauded by the Phillies for his clubhouse presence, thanks to an ability to connect with players of all ages. Though almost exclusively a designated hitter nowadays, Schwarber produced 3.5 and 4.7 WAR the past two seasons.
That created a robust market for the slugger, who'd already received a reported four-year, $120 million deal from thePittsburgh Pirates.The New York Mets,Baltimore Oriolesand others were also in the running for his services.
But a Schwarber return to Philly was viewed in the industry as about as close to a fait accompli as these transactions get. He's been a perfect fit for the city - even garnering an endorsement deal from area minimart powerhouse Wawa - and in the Phillies' lineup.
Schwarber joinsBryce Harper,Zack Wheeler,Trea Turner,Aaron NolaandNick Castellanosin the Phillies' nine-figure contract club. The team is expected to trade or release Castellanos - entering the final year of a five-year, $100 million deal - and upgrade in right field.
