If there were ever hope that Kyle from Waltham would play for the Boston Red Sox in 2026 rather than re-signing with the Philadelphia Phillies (the decision he eventually made), that ended after one conversation. Kyle Schwarber admittedly loves playing at Fenway Park, and had one of his more successful seasons with the Red Sox back in 2021. That natural fit on paper instead turned into a round of speed dating during MLB free agency, and it turns out Boston never really stood a chance thanks in part to their front office.
Schwarber had a few counteroffers, reportedly from the likes of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds, before signing back in Philadelphia on a five-year, $150 million deal. The Phillies are happy to have the man who has homered in five straight games on a contract that should age gracefully.
Someone should've told Craig Breslow that.
Why Kyle Schwarber signed with the Phillies and not the Red Sox
To put it simply, the Red Sox never showed any real interest. Schwarber didn't hide his intent to re-sign with the Phillies last winter. Philadelphia was always favored, and Schwarber is beloved in the organization.
The Phillies were willing to foot the bill, and there's certainly risk that comes with giving a 33-year-old, power-hungry designated hitter a five-year deal of that magnitude. But for all his faults, Dave Dombrowski has always been more concerned about the present than the future. If the Phillies were going to continue their World Series pursuit, Schwarber would play a role in it. The man has averaged well over 40 home runs since the 2022 season, after all.
Season | Home Runs |
|---|---|
2022 | 46 |
2023 | 47 |
2024 | 38 |
2025 | 56 |
The Red Sox, on the other hand, didn't really make that serious of an effort to persuade Schwarber otherwise.
"While surprise suitors such as the Reds and Pirates pursued Schwarber, the Sox never offered an alternative avenue. Sources at the time said the team never made an offer to Schwarber. The slugger confirmed that notion on Tuesday," Alex Speier of The Boston Globe wrote.
Schwarber said the Red Sox interest started and ended with a quick zoom call.
Kyle Schwarber's free-agency reflection puts Phillies season in perspective
While Schwarber did eventually re-sign with the Phillies, even he admitted that he wanted to respect the free agency process. Had a better offer appeared, much like any player lucky enough to reach free agency, he might've taken it. That offer came from the Phillies, especially as Schwarber weighed his desire to contend in the long run.
Sure, the Phillies' season didn't get off to a desirable start. The team fired manager Rob Thomson, a decision most fans probably could've made for them following last postseason. Since, they've rebounded quite nicely, in part thanks to Schwarber. The Phillies are 20-22, a good nine games out in the NL East but quickly gaining ground in the NL Wild Card race. As Memorial Day's moment of self-reflection nears, the Phillies have put themselves in a decent position and avoided the worst-case scenario.
Schwarber's voice and presence is valued more in Philadelphia than any team he theoretically could have signed with. No one gets that more than Phillies interim manager Don Mattlingly.
“He’s just one of those guys that, if you make mistakes, he makes you pay,” said Mattingly.
Apparently that wasn't good enough for the Red Sox.
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