Red Sox Rumors: AL East Rival Chasing Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber in Free Agency?

In MLB free agency, money talks. So how much will it take for the Boston Red Sox to sign Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber?

“Because he’ll be 33 on Opening Day, Schwarber is looking at a maximum five-year deal,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports. “Even at a high average annual value, the lack of years keeps mid-market teams in the mix.

“Ultimately, though, the bidding is likely to come down to bigger-market teams, and he could wind up with a bigger per-year number than (Kyle) Tucker on account of that,” Passan adds.

“Schwarber is one of those rare players — think Marcus Semien — who will make more money in his mid-30s than he did previously,” ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reports. “He should sign for much more than $79 million, which is what he just made in his previous deal with Philadelphia.”

Market Expanding?

Those numbers shouldn’t overwhelm Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. But here’s the scary part.

“The Phillies need him more than he needs them, according to insiders,” Rogers adds. “How do you replace 187 home runs over the past four years? You don’t. He could also balance out the Yankees’ lineup if Cody Bellinger walks. Can you imagine his home run totals with the short porch at Yankee Stadium?

“Both players have the same agent — Casey Close of Excel — but they bring different skill sets to the table, meaning the crossover between interested teams may not materialize,” Rogers notes.

New York Yankees outfielders Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham are free agents, and it’s possible general manager Brian Cashman will turn elsewhere if both walk. While many have linked the Yankees to Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker, who is generally regarded as the best all-around player on the open market, this is the first we’re hearing of Schwarber potentially on the Yankees’ radar.

Potential Fits

As for the other clubs chasing Schwarber, a return to the City of Brotherly Love remains on the table.

“The Phillies are making Kyle Schwarber a top priority,” the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports.

If the Phillies swing and miss, ESPN’s David Schoenfiel says the New York Mets are another possible fit.

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden says the Phillies, Mets and Detroit Tigers are the best fits for Schwarber, with a price tag of five years and $160 million.

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand believes Schwarber’s potential fits are the Phillies, Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds.

Why all the fuss? It’s pretty simple: Schwarber is a National League MVP finalist after leading the league with a career-high 56 home runs.

The three-time All-Star spent part of the 2021 season in Boston as a midseason acquisition and helped the Red Sox reach the American League Championship Series.

An 11-year-veteran, Schwarber helped the Chicago Cubs win the 2016 World Series.