How Mets, Phillies Can Blow Up Red Sox’s Kyle Schwarber-Pete Alonso Pursuits
Kyle Schwarber is the biggest power bat on the free-agent market
Call this story the worst-case scenario for the Boston Red Sox.
It’s no secret chief baseball officer Craig Breslow wants to add a power bat to the lineup. The rumor mill continues to link the Red Sox to Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso.
Now picture this: Schwarber and Alonso trading places. You read that right. Imagine a world in which Schwarber joins the Mets and Alonso bolts for the Phillies. That’s what The Athletic’s Will Sammon and Matt Gelb did Wednesday on the “Starkville” podcast. The conversation started with the premise that Schwarber could head to Queens.
“I don’t see it happening, frankly, to put it bluntly,” Sammon said. “I could be wrong. I’ve been wrong before. In some ways, you can make the argument that he’s actually a very strong fit of course for the New York Mets, right? Like they could certainly use that. Anybody can. But certainly the Mets.
“I have a hard time seeing the Mets being that team to give all that money to a DH-type,” Sammon added.
“I’m imagining a situation where the Phillies then end up signing Pete Alonso, which would truly be the most hilarious response to that, right?” Gelb replied. “They end up trading DH-types through free agency, but I agree with Will. I have a hard time seeing Schwarber go to the Mets for a couple of reasons, but still all roads lead, for the Phillies at least, to Schwarber and (J.T.) Realmuto re-signing.
“Wherever the goes, he brings this X-factor to the clubhouse,” Gelb said about Schwarber. “You know, the leadership, it’s so consistent and so impactful and there’s no question Philadelphia is a great match for him because of the grinder mentality that Philly brings.”
Schwarber, a three-time All-Star, led the National League with a career-high 56 home runs this season.
Runner-up for 2025 NL MVP Award, the 32-year-old Schwarber has hit at least 38 home runs in each of the last four seasons.
The 30-year-old Alonso is a five-time All-Star and two-time Home Run Derby champion. He’s hit at least 34 home runs in each of the last five seasons.
In 2025, Alonso finished second in the majors with 126 RBIs. He trailed only Schwarber and his 132 RBIs, which was another personal best for the lefty bat who spent part of the 2021 season with the Red Sox and helped Boston reach the American League Championship Series.
