Kyle Schwarber is ‘different than most’ to Phillies, who are set to re-sign star slugger

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dave Dombrowski played coy on Tuesday inside the Phillies’ suite at the Winter Meetings. It didn’t matter that the talk of the resort was about his club reportedly finalizing a deal with prized designated hitter Kyle Schwarber to keep the slugger in Philadelphia for the next five years. The president of baseball operations was not ready to name names or provide details.

“I don’t even know who you’re talking about, so I’ll just be hypothetical,” Dombrowski said. “If we’re able to bring back our big-name free agent I’d be thrilled. But I don’t really want to get into too much at this point on it, just because I’m just not in a position to be able to do that.”

And while the deal might not be totally completed, it’ll become the Phillies’ most crucial move of the offseason once the pen hits the paper. Schwarber will earn $150 million over the course of his next contract, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, a steep commitment to a DH who will be under contract through his age-37 season. But the Phillies view Schwarber, the runner-up in National League MVP voting this year after hitting 56 home runs with a .928 OPS, as a key part of their organization, and they could not stay shy about their love for him.

“We’ve always wanted him back,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference. “It’s not done yet, so, but he’s so different than most of the guys I’ve ever been around. He’s a great player No. 1, and he knows how to bring the heartbeat of the clubhouse down when things are going rough — and not only the clubhouse, but individuals as well. I’ve talked about it to no end. He’s just a huge part of our ballclub.”

When Dombrowski targeted Schwarber before the 2022 season, the player’s makeup was a serious factor. Sure, he was coming off a strong 32-homer campaign with the Nationals and Red Sox and could provide some serious thump to Philadelphia’s order. But Schwarber was a World Series hero in Chicago in 2016 and a respected teammate at multiple stops. The Phillies had a 10-year postseason drought. They believed Schwarber could help establish team as a winner. In his first four seasons in Philadelphia, Schwarber hit 187 home runs and the Phillies made the playoffs four times.

“There’s very few people in my career that I’ve had when you look at them and say that is a genuine leader of your team that brings everything together: the way they work, the way they play, the way they handle themselves day in and day out, the way they treat their teammates, the way they bring you together,” Dombrowski said. “He’s one of those guys, and, to me, they’re hard to find. I think he’s been a difference maker for us since the day he got here to kind of help change the culture.”

In addition to helping the Phillies improve their fortunes, Schwarber has also elevated his game in a special fashion. He was non-tendered by the Cubs after the 2020 season and had not proven he could hit left-handed pitching. Five years later, he’s one of the most feared hitters in all of baseball. He smashed lefties to the tune of a .964 OPS in a career 2025 campaign. He led the NL in home runs and the big leagues in RBIs.

Schwarber was in better physical shape than ever this year. Maybe his type of power production will become more of a challenge as he ages, but the Phillies think that the late bloomer can continue to be an outlier in his mid- to late-30s. He’ll have the chance to prove his club right once his new deal is official and the season begins.

“I think there’s a really good chance that he’s going to maintain this level,” Thomson said. “This was an unbelievable year for him, so I don’t think we can expect this every year. But I still think he’s going to be a high-level performer.”