Phillies Free Agency: Kyle Schwarber timeline, potential Kyle Tucker pursuit

It's that time of year when the Major League Baseball hot stove starts to warm up, with free agency now open. With league and team executives and gathering in Las Vegas for the annual GM Meetings, things should start to get rolling toward the Winter Meetings in early December.

The Phillies have plenty of moving parts this offseason. They have big-name free agents hitting the market, namely Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suárez. They have a fluid situation in the outfield, with Nick Castellanos likely on his way out of town. They will also need to investigate both relief and starting pitching depth options.

Phillies Free Agency: Will Kyle Schwarber sign quickly this winter?

Kyle Schwarber is, of course, the free agent on the minds of the Philadelphia Phillies front office. Not to mention in the thoughts of every Phillies fan. Everyone wants to know where he's going to land.

While some of the biggest names will hold out for a while, as happens every year, there are rumblings that Schwarber could strike a deal sooner rather than later, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. That bodes well for the Phillies, assuming Schwarber gives them the final crack at matching or topping what he's offered on the open market.

"My theory is this, from talking to people around the industry, that if we do see one significant bat sign early that it could be Kyle Schwarber," Morosi said on MLB Network's Hot Stove on Monday. "Here's why: To me, his market is more defined than the [other top free agents]. ... There are just more moving parts to some of the other [position-player free agents], whereas with Schwarber, it is so clear what his role is. It is so clear what his value to the Phillies is."

Aside from the power production he provides the lineup, Schwarber has been an integral clubhouse leader over his four years in red pinstripes. It's hard to imagine the front office not bringing him back, even if it costs them five years and $150 million to do so. That at least seems to be the consensus around the industry.

Might the Phillies actually be in play for Kyle Tucker?

The other Kyle on everyone's mind is Kyle Tucker. Formerly of the Houston Astros and more recently the Chicago Cubs, the 28-year-old outfielder is in line for a prosperous offseason.

The Phillies keep popping up when Tucker is mentioned. Is there a possibility that they will be in play for the five tool player?

This more than likely hinges on whether they can re-sign Schwarber, as The Athletic's destination tier rankings for Tucker indicate (subscription required).

Patrick Mooney, Will Sammon, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal place the Phillies in the fourth tier. They're behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (because why not the Dodgers?) in the first tier, the New York Yankees in the second tier, and the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays in tier three.

Apparently, "multiple officials from rival clubs speculated that if Schwarber somehow ends up elsewhere, the Phillies are worth watching in the Tucker sweepstakes."

Battling injury again this season, Tucker still hit .266 with an .841 OPS, 22 home runs, 73 RBIs, 91 runs and 25 stolen bases in 136 games. Multiple outlets have predicted that the four-time All Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner could sign a deal for 10 years (or more) and around $400 million.

That's a price the Phillies would only consider if Schwarber signs elsewhere first. We'll have to wait and see if that comes to fruition.

Losing Schwarber would put a ton of pressure on Phillies president of baseball operations and general manager Preston Mattingly to reel in a big fish. Their former World Series adversary Tucker might just be next on their list.