The Philadelphia Phillies are taking a cautious approach to re-signing free agent Kyle Schwarber, with no deal in sight according to sources. The lack of urgency for MLB's free agents stems from the absence of a salary cap, allowing teams to prioritize and take their time when making decisions.
This mindset is evident in the way the Phillies handled Bryce Harper's decision in 2019, which was finalized before players and coaches had even reported to camp. While Schwarber's situation may not have reached this level of finality just yet, it appears that his agents are capitalizing on a strong 2025 season in which he finished second in NL MVP voting.
The Phillies' inability to move forward with other free agent acquisitions, such as Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, highlights the uncertainty surrounding Schwarber's intentions. Until they have clarity on this front, they cannot make meaningful moves in other areas of their roster, including the DH spot.
The wait for information on Schwarber could come at a cost to the Phillies. As MLB insider Jon Morosi noted, missing out on top free agents like Tucker and Bregman could be an opportunity cost. Furthermore, waiting to sign Schwarber might limit the team's ability to make significant trades, such as potentially acquiring Diamondbacks slugger Ketel Marte.
The Diamondbacks are said to be actively listening on Marte, with multiple teams expressing interest in his services. The Phillies' involvement in these discussions could lead to a trade, but it remains unclear whether they will emerge as serious contenders for the 31-year-old infielder's services.
Marte brings significant value to the table, having slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 homers in 2024 and finishing third in NL MVP voting last season. He has also won a Silver Slugger and was an All-Star in both of the past two seasons.
The free agent market is expected to pick up activity after Thanksgiving, when the owner's meetings commence on December 7 in Orlando.
This mindset is evident in the way the Phillies handled Bryce Harper's decision in 2019, which was finalized before players and coaches had even reported to camp. While Schwarber's situation may not have reached this level of finality just yet, it appears that his agents are capitalizing on a strong 2025 season in which he finished second in NL MVP voting.
The Phillies' inability to move forward with other free agent acquisitions, such as Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, highlights the uncertainty surrounding Schwarber's intentions. Until they have clarity on this front, they cannot make meaningful moves in other areas of their roster, including the DH spot.
The wait for information on Schwarber could come at a cost to the Phillies. As MLB insider Jon Morosi noted, missing out on top free agents like Tucker and Bregman could be an opportunity cost. Furthermore, waiting to sign Schwarber might limit the team's ability to make significant trades, such as potentially acquiring Diamondbacks slugger Ketel Marte.
The Diamondbacks are said to be actively listening on Marte, with multiple teams expressing interest in his services. The Phillies' involvement in these discussions could lead to a trade, but it remains unclear whether they will emerge as serious contenders for the 31-year-old infielder's services.
Marte brings significant value to the table, having slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 homers in 2024 and finishing third in NL MVP voting last season. He has also won a Silver Slugger and was an All-Star in both of the past two seasons.
The free agent market is expected to pick up activity after Thanksgiving, when the owner's meetings commence on December 7 in Orlando.
So Schwarber's team is trying to capitalize on his strong season last year... but it's also kinda making things harder for the Phillies to make moves elsewhere 
I mean, they can't sign him and then still try to snag Marte or Tucker? It feels like they're playing a waiting game, hoping Schwarber comes back with some big numbers 
. But what if he doesn't? Do they just sit on their hands for another year? 
The thing is, in MLB, there's no cap, so teams have all the time in the world to make moves... but that also means there's a lot of uncertainty and risk involved 
. It's like, if Schwarber signs, great, they've got their DH sorted out. But what if he doesn't? Do they miss out on other bigger deals because they're still waiting for him? 
! It feels like teams are playing a game of chicken, waiting for other teams to blink first. I mean, no salary cap means everyone gets a say, but it also means it can take forever to get anything done.
. I mean, Tucker and Bregman are top free agents, and if the Phillies don't act fast, they'll miss out on some big fish 
. And with the owner's meetings coming up, it's like the whole baseball world is holding its breath... and I'm here for it 
. The question is, will the Phillies take a chance on Marte or play it safe? Only time (and maybe a few trades) will tell! 
AND NOW THEY'RE MISSING OUT ON OTHER FREE AGENTS LIKE TUCKER AND BREGMAN!!! 
IF THEY DON'T MAKE A MOVE SOON, THEY'LL BE LEFT IN THE DUST! 
They gotta know how much money they can throw around and still stay under budget, but at the same time, they don't wanna get left out of the big deals. It's like they're playing both sides against each other - their own team vs. the free agent market. 
And the Phillies? They're just sitting around twiddling their thumbs, waiting for Schwarber to make up his mind. 
. Meanwhile, teams like the Diamondbacks are super interested in Ketel Marte 
and the Phillies might miss out on him if they don't act fast 
. I get that there's no salary cap in MLB, but sometimes you gotta take a chance and make a move to stay competitive 
, and if the Phillies can snag him, they'll be in business for sure. Meanwhile, Schwarber is just kinda sitting there, doing his thing 
, and it got me thinking about how some animals are naturally more talented than humans. Like, have you ever seen a dog learn a new trick in like 2 seconds? It's crazy! My neighbor's dog can sit, stay, and even shake hands (well, sort of 
). I'm not saying my cat isn't talented too, but maybe the piano thing was just a fluke 
. On one hand, I get it, no salary cap = team has all the time they need to weigh their options, but on the other hand, it feels like they're playing hardball (pun intended) and not showing any urgency 
. I'm not sure what's more frustrating – waiting for Schwarber to decide or watching teams swoop in and snag talented players while we're stuck in limbo 
. Will the Phillies finally make some noise or will they continue to play it safe? Only time (and maybe a few more weeks of waiting) will tell 