Philippine Baseball Club Still Stalling on Schwarber Deal
MLB's relaxed free agent policy has been instrumental in prolonging the negotiating process for top talent, including Kyle Schwarber. The Phillies' pursuit of re-signing the NL MVP runner-up is still a long way off from reaching an agreement.
Schwarber's agents are taking full advantage of his impressive 2025 season, which saw him finish second in the league MVP voting behind Shohei Ohtani. However, this approach has been criticized by some as inexcusable at this time of year, particularly when teams have already started preparing for the next season.
The Phillies' uncertainty over Schwarber's intentions has created a ripple effect on their offseason strategy. Until his future is secured, they cannot make any meaningful moves in free agency or trade for players like Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman. Moreover, the team remains uncertain about how much to spend on the DH spot, which could impact their ability to compete in other areas of the roster.
One potential consequence of this delay is missing out on top free agents and trade opportunities. The Phillies are reportedly interested in Diamondbacks slugger Ketel Marte, but their chances of acquiring him may be compromised if they fail to make a move soon. According to MLB insider Jon Morosi, there's an approximately 50/50 chance that Marte will be traded by the Diamondbacks, with the Phillies among several teams expressing interest.
Marte's departure could also lead to the need for significant roster adjustments. If he were to join the Phillies, they may need to trade away players like Bryson Stott or Alec Bohm, who are currently under contract with the team. Marte's arrival would require significant changes to Philadelphia's infield, which could be costly and logistically challenging.
As the offseason enters its final stretch, free agent activity is expected to increase after Thanksgiving, when the owners' meetings begin on December 7 in Orlando. For now, however, the Phillies remain stuck in limbo, waiting for Schwarber's decision that could have far-reaching implications for their future success.
MLB's relaxed free agent policy has been instrumental in prolonging the negotiating process for top talent, including Kyle Schwarber. The Phillies' pursuit of re-signing the NL MVP runner-up is still a long way off from reaching an agreement.
Schwarber's agents are taking full advantage of his impressive 2025 season, which saw him finish second in the league MVP voting behind Shohei Ohtani. However, this approach has been criticized by some as inexcusable at this time of year, particularly when teams have already started preparing for the next season.
The Phillies' uncertainty over Schwarber's intentions has created a ripple effect on their offseason strategy. Until his future is secured, they cannot make any meaningful moves in free agency or trade for players like Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman. Moreover, the team remains uncertain about how much to spend on the DH spot, which could impact their ability to compete in other areas of the roster.
One potential consequence of this delay is missing out on top free agents and trade opportunities. The Phillies are reportedly interested in Diamondbacks slugger Ketel Marte, but their chances of acquiring him may be compromised if they fail to make a move soon. According to MLB insider Jon Morosi, there's an approximately 50/50 chance that Marte will be traded by the Diamondbacks, with the Phillies among several teams expressing interest.
Marte's departure could also lead to the need for significant roster adjustments. If he were to join the Phillies, they may need to trade away players like Bryson Stott or Alec Bohm, who are currently under contract with the team. Marte's arrival would require significant changes to Philadelphia's infield, which could be costly and logistically challenging.
As the offseason enters its final stretch, free agent activity is expected to increase after Thanksgiving, when the owners' meetings begin on December 7 in Orlando. For now, however, the Phillies remain stuck in limbo, waiting for Schwarber's decision that could have far-reaching implications for their future success.
! I mean, he had an amazing season and is a total game-changer... it's like they're playing it too cool 
. This delay is gonna cost them so much in free agency and trades, and now Marte is even more tantalizingly out of reach 
. Come on, Philly, make a move already! The offseason is almost over and you still haven't made any waves 
. It's like they're stuck in neutral 
. Schwarber fans are getting anxious 
... fingers crossed he does end up with the Phillies 
!
. They need to make moves in free agency or trade for players like Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman, but without Schwarber's future secured, it’s all just speculation 
. And now, if Ketel Marte leaves the Diamondbacks, who knows what other players they'll have to juggle out of their roster? 
... I mean what if they miss out on Marte? That would be a huge mistake...
like ketel marte who would be an awesome addition to their lineup 
"The biggest risk is not taking any risk..." 
They need to decide what they're willing to pay for him or risk losing out on other top talent altogether.
They could be stuck in limbo forever. The Phillies need to think about their long-term goals and not get caught up in the fear of making a big move. 
"The greatest risk is not taking any risk..." indeed! 
. 50/50 chance of Marte being traded? that's crazy 
. I'm still thinking they should've made a move by now... all this uncertainty is just creating more stress 
. Not looking good for Philly 
Kyle Schwarber is like the ultimate prize right now and everyone wants a piece of him 
. This delay could cost them some top talent or trade opportunities 
! Can't they just get straight to the point?! First of all, why do they need like 5 paragraphs to explain how the Phillies are waiting on Schwarber? It's not that deep, guys! Then there's all these random stats and numbers scattered around - I mean, I know I'm a baseball nerd at heart 
, but can't we have a nice clean table or something to break it up?!
. The article is written in this bland Arial font that's just so boring! Can't we have some some flair with a nice Open Sans or Montserrat?! And what's with all the tiny text? I need my eyes to be able to scan quickly through this article, not strain from squinting at tiny fonts 
!
. The Phillies need to make a move for Schwarber or they'll miss out on other top talent and their roster will be all over the place 
. And what about Marte? If he's going to join the Phillies, they gotta trade away some of their own players and that's gonna hurt the team in the long run 
cant believe they're still dragging it out like this tho ... maybe some pressure from the front office would motivate him to make a decision already ? 
️ anyway back to baseball... has anyone else noticed how weird it is when players take forever to make decisions about their contracts? like, I get it, Schwarber had an amazing season but can't his agents just chill for 2 weeks? 
also, who thought it was a good idea to play with only one DH spot on the team? that's just asking for problems...
. And what's with all these teams chasing after top free agents? It's like they think they can buy success or something 
. Fingers crossed they figure it out ASAP! 
. And what about the ripple effect on the team's roster? Trading away Bryson Stott or Alec Bohm? That's gonna hurt their chances of competing 
. I get it, they want Schwarber back, but this whole process is getting out of hand...can't we just make a move already?! 
. And now it's not just about Schwarber, but also what happens if Ketel Marte joins the team and they have to trade away some of their other good players 
. It's all getting pretty complicated...
. Can't wait for the offseason meetings in Orlando to start – hopefully some action will finally be taken around then