Dave Dombrowski got his slugger in the Phillies lineup, as Kyle Schwarber is officially a Phillie.
Per multiple reports, the Phillies have reached an agreement with free-agent left-handed outfielder Kyle Schwarber. He reportedly gets a four-year contract with an average annual value of just under $20 million. The deal is pending a physical.
Schwarber is entering his age 29 season and won’t turn 30 until March 2023.
Schwarber started the 2021 season with the Washington Nationals before being traded to the Red Sox at the trade deadline after being non-tendered by the Chicago Cubs in December 2020.
Schawrber is new Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long’s star pupil from his final season with the Nationals.
Under Long in The Nation’s Capital, Schwarber slashed .253/.340/.570 with 21 home runs and 53 RBIs in just 72 games for the Nats.
The lefty was named the National League’s Player of the Month for the Month of June. He hit 16 home, of which seven were from the leadoff spot, along with 30 RBIs. He also had an OPS of 1.122 and a slugging percentage of .760.
How Kyle Schwarber Will Fit In
Schwarber is now set to replace Andrew McCutchen, who has agreed to a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, at the top of the Phillies order and in left field. The Phillies’ potential Opening Day lineup one through five could potentially look like this:
Schwarber
Segura
Harper
Hoskins
Realmuto
With a Herrera/Vierling platoon almost guaranteed in center field and Bryson Stott challenging Didi Gregorius for his starting shortstop job, Schwarber gives the Phillies lineup stability with only a couple of holes remaining.
Before the signing of the lefty, the Phillies were just barely under $200 million in luxury tax payroll. His reported AAV gives the Phillies a little over $10 million remaining before going over the threshold.
There is some room to keep adding. But if the Phillies want another big fish, they will have to go over the tax, something Phillies managing partner John Middleton has reportedly not authorized President of Baseball Ops Dave Dombrowski to do.
Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire
