Overview
- No deal is in place, and MLB.com reported in late November that the Phillies and Schwarber were not close to an agreement.
- The Reds, Red Sox, Mets, and Orioles are pursuing the slugger, with ESPN reporting fresh Mets buzz during the Winter Meetings.
- Cincinnati mounted a public pitch by inviting Schwarber, his father, and his youth coach to throw ceremonial first pitches during an August visit.
- Insiders expect Schwarber to seek a five-year contract, according to reporting cited by Jeff Passan.
- Schwarber is coming off a 56-homer, 132-RBI season with a .563 slugging percentage and a second-place finish in NL MVP voting, underscoring his value to Philadelphia’s lineup.