MLB Free Agency Rumors: Red Sox See Surging Price Tag For Home Run Champ

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow could be facing some sticker shock in his quest to sign free-agent designated hitter Kyle Scwharber.

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden lists the reigning National League home run champion the No. 2 free agent this year, trailing only Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker,

Bowden names the Phillies, New York Mets and Detroit Tigers as the best fits for Schwarber, with a price tag of five years and $160 million.

Contract Comnps

He came to that number by using the following players as comps: San Francisco Giants slugger Rafael Devers (10 years, $313.5 million), New York Yankees DH Giancarlo Stanton (13 years, $325 million), Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman (three years, $120 million) and Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (two years, $54 million).

“In addition to being one of the premier power hitters in the game, Schwarber is highly valued around the league for his clubhouse presence,” Bowden writes. “Although he’s basically limited to the DH position, Schwarber offers consistency — he hit 56 home runs this year and has hit 40 homers or more in three of the last four years — and also durability, having played in 150 or more games each of the last four years, including 162 this year.

“Every team except the Dodgers and Yankees should want him to be its DH,” Bowden adds. “Although the Phillies will make every effort to re-sign him, it will be fascinating to see what offers Schwarber gets on the open market for his special power bat and ability to mentor younger players.”

Climbing Price Tag

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

In terms of numbers, MLB.com’s Mark 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.”

Perfect Fit?

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.

“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 Bregman goes elsewhere.”

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.