Red Sox Rumors: Home Run Champion Is ‘Obvious Solution’ But Market Expanding

Time might be of the essence if the Boston Red Sox want to sign Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.

That’s because MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports the market is expanding for the home run champion.

“Players entering their age-33 season don’t tend to find themselves this high on the list, but Schwarber is an exception,” Feinsand notes. “His plus power helped him lead the National League with 56 home runs and 132 RBIs while playing in all 162 games, setting a career-high in bWAR (4.7) and fWAR (4.9). Schwarber can play left field on occasion, but he’s essentially a full-time DH who will make any lineup better immediately upon arrival.

“Potential fits: Phillies, Rangers, Reds,” Feinsand adds, listing Schwarber as his No. 3 free agent.

The Obvious Solution

Masslive.com’s Sean McAdam says Boston signing Schwarber would be a no-brainer, noting the Red Sox can go “dollar-for-dollar” with the Phillies, who are expected to make a big push to re-sign the three-time All-Star.

McAdam calls Schwarber a “very obvious solution” who would add some much-needed power to the Boston lineup.

“Landing Schwarber would give the Red Sox the game’s second-best DH (after Shohei Ohtani) in the game, someone with both on-base ability and power who could hit in any one of the first four spots in the lineup,” McAdam says. “He would also give them a powerful clubhouse presence, which could prove especially important if (Alex) Bregman goes elsewhere.”

McAdam acknowledges there are some drawbacks to signing Schwarber, including his sticker price and the fact he would cost Boston draft-pick compensation. The lefty bat also has struck out at least 197 times in each of the last four seasons, which McAdam says doesn’t gel with the Red Sox’s philosophy of putting the ball in play.

“But he would also lengthen their lineup and provide the pop they so obviously need. And by upgrading their production at DH, they could take a more measured — and less expensive — approach to solving the first base issue,” McAdam concludes.

Is The Price Right?

Last month, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale predicted Schwarber “should command a four-year deal in excess of $120 million.”

In terms of numbers, Feinsand was in the same ballpark as Nightengale.

“Among those we spoke to, the consensus is that Schwarber should land a deal of four or five years for at least $30 million per season,” Feinsand reported.

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel polled 20 scouts, executives and agents to get a sense of Schwarber’s value in free agency.

“The average of all 20 projections is 4.3 years, $131.8 million, for a $30.7 million average annual value (AAV),” McDaniel reported. “The median projection of those deals is $119 million.”

Schwarber 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.