Sometimes the headline isn’t the headline.
In Jeff Passan’s offseason primer for ESPN, a nugget about the Pittsburgh Pirates potentially chasing Kyle Schwarber made the rounds. Everyone laughed. The idea of the Pirates outspending the rest of the league for the best power bat on the open market is, well, laughable.
But perhaps that shouldn’t have been the takeaway as it pertains to the Phillies chances at re-signing Schwarber.
Here’s what flew under the radar.
As Passan describes, Schwarber’s combination of high-end skill and elite on-base production plus power (and relatively) short contract likelihood makes his market wide.
The demand for Schwarber is high, which is no surprise considering he won't get more than a five-year deal because of his age and positional inflexibility as a full-time designated hitter. Of course, when you hit like Schwarber, neither age nor position matters. Teams have made that abundantly clear, all the way from the obvious suitors (the Philadelphia Phillies are fiending to re-sign him) and the not-so-obvious (yes, Pittsburgh is in on Schwarber as well).
Because of his production and leadership skills, Schwarber fits just about anywhere. The Boston Red Sox are still kicking themselves for letting him go after 2021. The New York Mets stealing him from Philadelphia would be a coup. The Toronto Blue Jays want a left-handed complement to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Cincinnati is 40 minutes south of where Schwarber grew up. The Detroit Tigers need some thump in their lineup.
You know what that says to me? A bunch of teams sitting between four and five year offers, likely around $30M per season. That could lead to a long, drawn out wait for Schwarber to choose—or get a team to budge.
For the Phillies, what separates them from the pack? Perhaps (and I’m guessing this is what Schwarber’s camp is banking on) an extra year. If the market is at five, there’s an easy way to get Schwarber to sign on the dotted line: Offer a sixth year. Take the total value up. Make it the last contract of Schwarber’s career. Give him the kind of long-term security he’s never had in the major leagues. Commit. Go above and beyond, like the franchise did for Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Aaron Nola.
Is that a bridge too far? Perhaps. But it sure feels like where this could be headed.
We’re at Roost Pub & Kitchen in Wilmington, DE for today’s WIP Midday Show. Come on out for lunch and say hi!
We had Ross Tucker on yesterday’s show to talk about the Eagles offense and the top of the NFC.
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