Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber has been one of the most valuable players in Major League Baseball in 2025. He has been a major asset for the team since he signed that four-year deal to bring him to Philadelphia in 2022. The rumors have swirled about where Schwarber could end up in free agency, and the latest rumor about Schwarber's departure now has him going back to his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Through 96 games, he's batting .247/.378/.545, good for a .923 OPS. With his 2.8 fWAR, he's also on his way to surpassing his most valuable season yet in his 11-year career. He's exceeded every expectation that was placed on him, but that still could sadly come to an end after this season.
The Phillies and Schwarber had talks of a potential extension to keep him here long-term, but advanced talks failed to occur. Now, the Phillies are not only preparing themselves to possibly lose him from their lineup but also to play against him on a rival club, per MLB.com's Paul Casella.
Kyle Schwarber's latest comments about free agency will make Phillies fans sick
Schwarber has made a home in Philadelphia, but there could be a draw to his hometown Cincinnati Reds if they're willing to spend to help bolster their young core. There's the lure of playing for your childhood team that can be difficult to shake. It's that temptation that makes it appealing to Schwarber (subscription required), per Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
"Growing up and watching Cincinnati baseball for your whole youth, that's how you fall in love with baseball," Schwarber told Lauber at the All-Star Game festivities. "... Being able to play for your childhood team is something that I think it'd be awesome."
Upcoming free agent Kyle Schwarber was asked about the Reds (via @ScottLauber):
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) July 17, 2025
"Growing up and watching Cincinnati baseball for your whole youth, that's how you fall in love with baseball...being able to play for your childhood team is something that I think it'd be awesome." pic.twitter.com/laSjntH2Jx
The thought of Schwarber leaving makes Phillies fans sick to their stomachs.
It's appealing for Schwarber, as it would be for any player that would have the chance to play for the team they grew up watching as a kid. The one thing that the Phillies do have going their way is the environment when it comes to a competitive baseball atmosphere.
“We’ve played a lot of meaningful baseball games in Philadelphia, and the postseason environment is second to none,” Schwarber said, per Lauber. “To be able to feel like you’re playing a Tuesday night game and it’s sold out, 40,000, that’s something you don’t want to take for granted and you appreciate that.”
More of these rumors will continue to flood in as the months go on. The scary thing about the Reds is that if they're willing to match the price tag, a good yank on the heartstrings could be the deathblow for a Schwarber-Phillies reunion. Although it seems scary now, what Schwarber has built in Philadelphia may still have the edge when it comes to him signing a new contract.