While we got more clarity on some of the Philadelphia Phillies' offseason positions on Day 2 of the GM Meetings, one thing that hasn't changed is their desire to re-sign Kyle Schwarber. Unfortunately, one MLB insider is adamant that the Phillies won't be the only club aggressively pursuing the veteran slugger.
We're stating the obvious here. We all know there will be multiple teams vying for Schwarber's bat this winter. However, FanSided's Robert Murray, reporting from the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, indicated that the Boston Red Sox are believed to be a big player and a team to watch.
"Everyone I'm talking to here believes that the Red Sox are going to be a big player for Schwarber this offseason," Murray said in a video posted to Instagram on Tuesday. "That is absolutely a team to watch for him. Though, a reunion with the Philadelphia Phillies is very possible."
Phillies are favorites but expect Red Sox to go hard after Kyle Schwarber in free agency
Why are the Red Sox so interested? Besides Schwarber's NL-best 56 home runs and MLB-leading 132 RBIs this year, they are already familiar with him. He played 41 regular season games in Bean Town down the stretch in 2021, so they got a taste of what he brings to the clubhouse. It also didn't hurt that he hit .291/.435/.522.
As Murray noted in his column from the GM Meetings, Red Sox manager Alex Cora has previously said he is "very intrigued" by Schwarber's availability this offseason.
Despite the Boston bluster, the Phillies remain the favorite to land Schwarber. It will cost them, though, as he's potentially looking at a five-year, $150 million deal. Even though he'll be a 33-year-old designated hitter on Opening Day, they value his presence as a veteran leader on a team still in its contending window.
"The competition for Schwarber will be immense this winter – I anticipate the Phillies doing whatever possible to retain him – which figures to only drive up the price tag," Murray notes.
Should Phillies fans be worried? Well, where there's smoke there's fire, as the saying goes.
This isn't the first time the Red Sox have popped up on the Schwarber free agency radar, either. MassLive's Chris Cotillo noted in late October that Boston will jump in if the Phillies don't act quickly.
"[Alex] Cora has been clear about his admiration for Schwarber, who the Red Sox love, and if a quick reunion with the Phillies doesn’t come together, expect Boston to show some real interest there," Cotillo wrote.
Only time will tell who winds up victorious, although it could come together quickly.