The Philadelphia Phillies' main focus this winter was not letting Kyle Schwarber sign with another franchise. The Middleton, Ohio, native has been an integral part of the Phillies over the past four seasons. The pairing of him with the organization is such a fit that another key free agent this offseason, Pete Alonso, knew he wasn't on the team's radar because of their dedication to Schwarber.
Alonso, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles after the O's pursued Schwarber, would've been a solid addition for the Phillies if they hadn't re-signed their incumbent slugger. But Alonso, the Tampa native, knew long before the fan base did that the veteran slugger was going to sign a new contract with Philadelphia.
How Pete Alonso knew the Phillies were all in on re-signing Kyle Schwarber during the offseason
According to NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury, Alonso wasn't strongly considered by the Phillies this offseason, and the home run hitter knew it.
"There was a little bit of dialogue, very, very early, more of a ‘Hey, how you doing?’ type of thing," Alonso told Salisbury. "But they were like, ‘All our eggs are with Schwarbs.’"
Schwarber had the best offensive season of his career in 2025, finishing with 56 home runs and 132 RBI, both career-bests in 162 games. His .928 OPS tied his previous career-high he totaled in 2021. The Phillies made it clear in the offseason that their highest priority was keeping him in Philadelphia.
Alonso exemplified durability during his previous years with the New York Mets. He missed only 20 regular season contests from 2021-25 and played in all 162 games the last two seasons. The infielder totaled 38 home runs, 126 RBI, and a career-high 41 doubles in 2025 with the Mets. His .871 OPS was the second-best of his time in the majors, trailing the .941 OPS he compiled in his rookie year in 2019.
If Schwarber didn't re-sign with Philadelphia, Alonso represented the best alternative for the team to consider. The first baseman has a similar reputation as one of the top power hitters in MLB that the Phillies would have needed, even though the addition would've created a logjam at first base with Bryce Harper. However, despite offseason rumors about Schwarber, it always appeared that he'd wouldn't be leaving the City of Brotherly Love.
Alonso also would've been a good fit for Philadelphia due to his positive experience playing at Citizens Bank Park during his seven years with New York.
“I love playing in Philly. The Bank is a fun place to hit. The ball flies," Alonso said. "The fans are rowdy. They bring a lot of energy. And the Phillies always have a great team. They’re super talented. You’ve got to bring it when you play them.”
While Alonso is a heck of a talent and would've meshed with the Phillies if they'd signed him, he knew it wasn't up for debate: Schwarber always was their priority. It showed when they swiftlycountered the Orioles' contract offer to the power-hitter. The feeling was mutual, as the designated hitter wanted to remain with Philadelphia.