Full Kyle Schwarber contract details revealed (with a small win for the Phillies)

By now every Philadelphia Phillies fan knows that the team has re-signed Kyle Schwarber. While the Phillies also made some smaller moves this week, bringing back Schwarber alone made the Phillies' Winter Meetings a grand success.

We knew the general term and value of Schwarber's new contract right away when the news first broke late Tuesday morning. However, what we didn't know were the ins and the outs of how the deal was structured beyond the basic five-year term and $150 million heading the slugger's way.

Now we know the details of Schwarber's new contract. Let's just say that while it's obviously a lot of money for a player who is purely a designated hitter at this point in his career, the Phillies did manage to work in a benefit for the team payroll next season.

While the odd appearance in left field can be expected, it's a far stretch to call Schwarber a left fielder these days. But a five-year, $150 million contract was his market thanks to his development as a power hitter and clubhouse leader that the Phillies knew they couldn't afford to lose.

Details emerge of Phillies new $150 million contract with Kyle Schwarber

According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, who released the details of the deal, $15 million of Schwarber's deal will come in the form of a signing bonus, split across two $7.5 million payments before (March 15) and after (Oct. 25) the 2026 season.

That bonus will give the Phillies some payroll breathing room next season, as it will be split into $3 million chunks over the five years of the deal. So, for payroll purposes, Schwarber will earn $18 million in 2026 and $33 million in each of the subsequent four years, per Spotrac.

This gives the Phillies front office some wiggle room this season and payroll stability down the road while chasing that elusive third franchise World Series trophy.

We also know that Schwarber has some award bonuses in the contract, including a $59K bonus if he wins the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. Although that seems like a longshot with Shohei Ohtani taking home that prize for five straight years.

Schwarber's contract also includes a charitable component, in which it's stipulated that he will donate $150K per year to "Club Charity," per Heyman. It's unclear whether that pertains to the Phillies' own charitable arm or Schwarber’s Neighborhood Heroes foundation, which supports first responders, veterans, and their families.

Any way you look at this, it's a win for Schwarber. He'll be getting paid a lot of money to likely finish his career in Philadelphia. It's also a win for the Phillies, who needed to retain his bat and his leadership while they still have a chance to win with the current veteran core.