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Schwarber Hits Free Agency as Phillies Weigh Big Price Against Tax Limits

Rival bidders, including the Mets, are expected to test Philadelphia’s spending comfort.

Overview

  • Kyle Schwarber entered the market after a career-best 2025, with Phillies president Dave Dombrowski publicly praising him while cautioning a return "probably won’t be easy."
  • Recent projections peg his price in the five-year, $150 million to $170 million range, with earlier estimates clustering around $145 million to $160 million.
  • Philadelphia’s payroll commitments leave roughly $50–$55 million of room before steeper luxury-tax penalties, tightening options alongside existing big deals for stars already on the books.
  • ESPN’s David Schoenfield and other analysts point to the Mets as a plausible landing spot if the Phillies cannot match top offers.
  • Schwarber’s market is buoyed by 56 home runs, 132 RBIs and a .928 OPS in 2025, reinforcing his status as a premier DH/slugger in this free-agent class.