The Philadelphia Phillies are one of the few teams in baseball that pushed all their chips in to win the World Series this season. They have an older team led by veterans Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber, all of who are 30 years or older.
However, Schwarber is the one player entering the final year of his contract, yet the Phillies have no plans to let him go, despite his age.
Phillies GM Speaks On Kyle Schwarber’s Future
Not only has Schwarber been a great player for the Phillies, but he is also a fan favorite. Letting him leave in free agency would have ripple effects throughout the city. And has shown no signs of slowing down either. While he is no longer a viable option in the outfield, he is one of the best designated hitters in baseball.
Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski joined MLB Network Radio to discuss a potential contract extension for Schwarber. He said, “We hope to keep him to be a Phillie for years to come.”
Schwarber is the best power bat in the Phillies’ lineup as he has hit at least 38 home runs in each of the last three seasons. It will be interesting to see what a contract extension would look like for Schwarber, as he is a DH-only at this point in his career. Not playing a defensive position may slightly hurt his value.
Still, this is a deal that should get done, but we will likely not see any movement on it until the offseason.
Phillies Still Looking To Find Their Stride
Through the first 22 games of the regular season, the Phillies have a 13-9 record. Despite having instances of playing great baseball, they have not been consistent. One player who has struggled to start the year is Aaron Nola, the starting pitcher.
He is a former All-Star and Cy Young contender, but he has struggled to start the season. His ERA is 6.65, and he has lost all four of his starts so far.
If Nola can get back to form, the Phillies may have one of the best starting rotations in baseball if Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo, and Cristopher Sanchez join Nola. We know the Phillies’ lineup is going to hit, so much of their success will depend on the starting rotation and bullpen. So far, the outlook for the Phillies has been favorable to start the year, as they are among the best teams in the league.