What I’m hearing about the Phillies: Schwarber’s free agency, trade market, bullpen reboot – The Athletic

LAS VEGAS — The Phillies met this week with agents from Excel Sports Management, the agency that represents Kyle Schwarber, and that was hardly a surprising development. Casey Close, who is handling Schwarber’s negotiations, also represents Kyle Tucker. The Phillies spent their time at MLB’s general managers meetings checking in with every other club and every major agency.

A lot of the talk was in generalities. November is no time for specifics.

But in the case of Schwarber, the Phillies would prefer to avoid a protracted negotiation. They have made it clear they want to re-sign him. Yet from his camp’s perspective, there is no rush. Free agency is a chance to explore the market, to wait out potential suitors as the offseason unfolds. This is a classic free-agent dance.

Schwarber, who finished second in National League MVP voting this week, is a fascinating case. He will turn 33 before Opening Day. He is a designated hitter. He is valued highly by the Phillies, but it’s not obvious how the market will view him.

If not the Phillies, who is it?

The Chicago Cubs have indicated they are focused on top-of-the-market pitching options. The Texas Rangers have signaled they must reduce payroll. The Cincinnati Reds have almost $40 million coming off their books from last season, but probably cannot spend most of it on one player.

The Boston Red Sox are heavy on left-handed hitters and prefer to keep their DH spot open as a way to rotate regulars. But there is a strong bond between Boston manager Alex Cora and Schwarber that cannot be overlooked. The New York Mets could pivot to Schwarber if they want to move on from Pete Alonso. Maybe the Toronto Blue Jays make a play for Schwarber if Bo Bichette departs?

This is why Schwarber’s camp will want to keep every door open for as long as possible. The Phillies are willing to wait; they consider Schwarber essential to the entire operation.

It’s an unusual offseason for them, given how many of their free agents they would like to retain. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has not hidden his public stance. This dance is a little different.

“People understand that you’re not showing all your cards all the time, right?” Dombrowski said this week in Las Vegas. “You’re at least being straightforward enough to know what we’re trying to accomplish, but I don’t know if we’ll be able to accomplish that. And then if not, we’re moving on to Plan B.”

Bullpen shuffle?

With the Phillies fielding interest in their lefty relievers, Matt Strahm could be moved in the right deal. (Hunter Martin / Getty Images)

The Phillies have fielded steady interest in all three of their left-handed relievers since the offseason began, major-league sources said, and it could nudge them toward a trade. The free-agent market for lefty relievers is not robust; some of the best available arms are Gregory Soto, Drew Pomeranz, Danny Coulombe and Hoby Milner.

It’s why teams have targeted the Phillies. They have José Alvarado signed for $9 million in 2026, Matt Strahm for $7.5 million, and Tanner Banks projected by MLB Trade Rumors to make around $1 million in his first year of salary arbitration.

Strahm, in particular, could interest teams. But he’s also been an integral piece of the Phillies’ bullpen successes. His 2.46 ERA since 2023 ranks second among 53 left-handed relievers with 100 innings in that span. (Coulombe is first.) And, although Strahm’s strikeout rate and fastball velocity dipped in 2025, he still logged 62 1/3 innings of effective relief work.

What would be the motivation to move one of the lefties? The Phillies could acquire a mid-level prospect to help backfill a depleted farm system, then throw some darts with the payroll savings on a few middle relievers. Maybe it’s a chance to refresh a familiar bullpen mix that has enjoyed highs and suffered lows.

Whatever the case, the Phillies must create better bullpen depth than they did last offseason; they entered 2025 with these righties in the bullpen: Orion Kerkering, Jordan Romano, José Ruiz and Carlos Hernández. They’ve already boosted it by adding Jhoan Duran. But securing a deeper righty pool might require creative maneuvers — like trading a lefty.

More trade talk

A match with the Phillies? The Angels could trade either Taylor Ward or Jo Adell this offseason. (Edward M. Pio Roda / Getty Images)

In a weaker free-agent market, especially for right-handed hitters, the Phillies will have to think outside the box. It’s why the emergence of two potential trade targets — Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte (a switch-hitter) and Minnesota center fielder Byron Buxton (a righty) — seemed notable. Both the Diamondbacks and Twins have downplayed the likelihood of either being dealt; neither one may be. But if the Phillies were to enter the picture, any reasonable package would have to begin with Andrew Painter plus several other prospects.

Arizona is seeking young pitching. Minnesota wanted Painter from the Phillies last summer as the two sides worked toward a Duran trade.

It’s a price the Phillies are probably not willing to pay at this point.

While Painter’s stock took a hit in 2025, he is still one of the better pitching prospects in all of baseball. The Phillies essentially would be selling low, especially since they could have landed Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in 2024 with a package headlined by Painter.

Only the San Diego Padres surrendered better prospects at last season’s trade deadline than the Phillies, and the franchise has routinely flipped decent young talent every July since Dombrowski took control of the front office. Although the club has been protective of its best prospects, those consummated trades have weakened the farm system.

This is why, for now, the Phillies are signaling to rival clubs they would prefer to deal from their big-league roster. That could limit the types of teams that match with the Phillies; a rebuilding club, of course, would want prospects in return for an established player.

The St. Louis Cardinals, for example, have not been shy about their willingness to trade as they rebuild. Brendan Donovan, 28, has been a productive player and can play multiple positions. But he’s a lefty hitter with extreme splits, and feels like a similar-type player to what the Phillies already have.

The trick will be finding a team that has an abundance at one position and a need the Phillies can fill. The Los Angeles Angels, who could fix an outfield logjam by dealing either Taylor Ward or Jo Adell, remain a team to monitor. They need a third baseman. But it might not be as simple as a one-for-one Ward for Alec Bohm trade. Ward will command considerable interest, even with only one year of club control, because the free-agent outfielder market is so light.

One name to file away: Astros center fielder Jake Meyers, a righty hitter, who might be squeezed out of Houston’s outfield plan. Meyers, considered a strong defender, does not hit for power. But he could be a decent alternative to Harrison Bader — if he lands elsewhere. Houston is fielding calls on Meyers.

Good timing

Harrison Bader could cash-in after the best offensive season of his career. (Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)

Bader could cash in on a well-timed season. Given the relative dearth in the outfield market, especially in center field, he should command widespread interest. He will seek a multi-year deal.

“They know we have interest,” Dombrowski said of Bader’s camp. “They know that we’d like to bring him back. They also had expressed that they want to see what’s out there because this was the best year he’s had, I think, in quite a while. There are not a lot of outfielders out there.

“Did he like it? I think yes. I did think he liked being here, part of the situation. It was good for him. But, as a free agent, dollars can speak.”

Seeking rotation depth?

No one has said it aloud, but the Phillies have made it clear they do not expect to be bidding on Ranger Suárez, who should score a nine-figure deal this winter. As of now, they are not in the rotation market.

But there’s a good argument for them to acquire another back-end starter just to fortify the rotation. Zack Wheeler could begin playing catch sometime this month as he progresses in his recovery from surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome. But they are not banking on him being ready for Opening Day.

That would leave the Phillies with an April rotation of Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker and Painter. There is not much behind them in the upper levels of the farm system.

Could the Phillies be involved in the rotation market, even through a one-year deal for a modest reinforcement?

“I can’t say we wouldn’t,” Dombrowski said. “But, again, it’s not our highest priority. … You have to be careful. You always need to look for starting pitching depth. That doesn’t necessarily mean top of the market, but where does that fit in? Because you never have enough starting pitching, and really for us, after you get past (the top six starters) … now you’re talking about (minor leaguer Jean) Cabrera, he would be one of those guys. But we don’t have a lot of starting pitching depth, so that’s something we need to be cognizant of.”

Gage Wood, the club’s first-round pick last summer, will not have a full starter’s workload in 2026. He threw 40 2/3 innings between college and pro ball in 2025.

“We haven’t sat down yet and calculated it,” Dombrowski said, “but I am sure there will be some innings limitations.”