The Kyle Schwarber sweepstakes is heating up.

According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, Schwarber could sign by the end of next week’s winter meetings.

Schwarber is my No. 1 Phillies target. The entire offseason Plan A hinges on bringing the slugger back to this lineup for 2026 and beyond. If he walks, I’m not sure the Phillies will be able to pivot well enough to construct a lineup capable of truly competing for a World Series next year.

But that world exists. I’ve accepted that Schwarber could walk. But there’s one place the Phillies simply can’t let him leave for.

The Mets.

Ugh. Just typing out makes me cringe.

Yet its something that seems plausible, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

“Kyle Schwarber: The bellwether of the class. Schwarber’s market is healthy. He’s going to get years, and he’s going to get AAV, and at this point, he might be the likeliest of the big free agents to sign first. Unclear if something gets done before the meetings, but I’d be surprised if they end and he doesn’t have a team. The Phillies remain the favorite, with Boston, Cincinnati, the Mets and others in the mix.”

If I had to guess: Schwarber and the Mets are using each other for leverage. Schwarber to scare the Phillies, and the Mets to get Pete Alonso to blink in contract talks. But I never count out rich owners like Steve Cohen. Plus, the Mets just lost a top-of-the-lineup left-handed hitter/on-base machine in Brandon Nimmo and apparently have some sort of clubhouse issue between Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto.

Is there a better player/leader/winner fit out there for a Mets team trying to get over the hump than Schwarber?

It’s one thing if Schwarber ends up with the Red Sox or his hometown Reds. I can’t accept either. But the Mets? No. I can’t have any more of my favorite players wearing orange and blue.

Don’t let it happen, Phillies.

Is this why Jalen Hurts isn’t running as much?

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