Philadelphia Phillies slugging designated hitter Kyle Schwarber has continued to build his contract-year resume in 2025. Many experts are wondering where Schwarber could land in free agency after his initial four-year, $79 million deal with the Phillies. It's very possible that he lands back in the Midwest, where he's spent many years of his life before coming to Philadelphia.
Schwarber and the Phillies failed to come to a contract agreement before the 2025 season, which paved a lane for Schwarber to skyrocket the price of a new deal for 2026 and beyond. He's having a career year batting .256/.379/.585, good for a .965 OPS, which currently ranks third-best in MLB behind only Aaron Judge (1.148) and Shohei Ohtani (.987).
Kyle Schwarber might head back to Midwest if he doesn't return to Phillies in free agency
Schwarber will have many suitors requesting his services this offseason, but the thought of him leaving Philadelphia to go back home is just absolutely crushing to hear for Phillies fans.
According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Phillies rank No. 2 in a recent power rankings poll. The team's success without a doubt has been backed by Schwarber. Olney also explained that friends of Schwarber wonder if he'd prefer to play back in the Midwest, given his pending free agency.
"Some friends of his in the game wonder if he'd prefer to play closer to his Midwest roots," Olney says.
Schwarber is an Ohio native and played his first six years in the big leagues with the Chicago Cubs. It has been his home even after he came to Philadelphia, where the City of Brotherly Love has wrapped its arms around him.
The Midwest doesn't automatically mean he'd rejoin the Cubs. But him leaving for them, his hometown Cincinnati Reds, the Kansas City Royals, the St. Louis Cardinals or any other team wouldn't take the sting out of him leaving. It would feel like an immediate gut punch knowing the Phillies would have to face him as an opponent. It would also not bode well for the Phillies front office, knowing they got outbid to keep one of their best players in the franchise's history.
Just listen to this place pic.twitter.com/EL7dao65dA
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 5, 2025
The excitement that surrounds Schwarber is real right now. He's making a real run at Shohei Ohtani this year for the NL MVP, per MLB.com's Mike Lupica. He's second in MLB with 40 home runs, first with 94 RBIs, and ignites a jolt into every Phillies fan as they celebrate every majestic home run he hits into the seats at Citizens Bank Park.
Furthermore, he's second in MLB with 171 home runs since he joined the Phillies in 2022. Not only that, but he's been a machine for them as their big slugger, and they can't afford to lose him. The Phillies may have the upper hand with him having so much success recently here, but they'll have to play their cards right to avoid a disaster. Wherever he ends up, one thing is certain: he'll deserve whatever contract he has coming his way.