Reacting to Kyle Schwarber’s new contract with Philadelphia Phillies
Reporter Brandon Holveck shares three takeaways from the Phillies’ reported five-year, $150 million deal with Kyle Schwarber.
The Philadelphia Phillies have taken the first step in rebuilding their outfield after receiving lackluster offensive production there in 2025.
The Phillies and Adolis Garcia have agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract, per reporter Francys Romero. Garcia, who will turn 33 on March 2, started in right field the past five seasons for the Texas Rangers.
Garcia amounts to another reclamation project for the Phillies in the mold of Max Kepler, whom the club signed to a one-year, $10 million deal almost one year ago on Dec. 19, 2024.
Garcia was an All-Star in 2023 when he hit 39 home runs and drove in 107 runs for the World Series champion Rangers. His offensive production has trailed off in each of the last two seasons. Among players with at least 1,000 plate appearances in that time, Garcia ranked seventh-to-last in Fangraphs wins above replacement (0.6).
The Rangers non-tendered Garcia after he hit .227 with 19 home runs and a .665 OPS in 135 games in 2025.
The bar for contributing to the Phillies outfield, however, has not been high. Phillies outfielders ranked tied for 20th in 2025 in fWAR (3.2). Since 2022, the highest the Phillies outfield has ranked in 19th.
The offseason was expected to bring change to the outfield with trade deadline acquisition Harrison Bader entering free agency. The signing of Garcia also likely signals the end of Nick Castellanos’ Phillies tenure.
Garcia and Castellanos have similar profiles as low-average, high-power hitter right fielders. Castellanos fell out of favor as his production dipped in the second half of the 2025 season. He critiqued communication from the coaching staff as the once iron man with a 236 games-started streak became a part-time player.
Castellanos did not appear in the starting lineup in 13 of the team’s 25 September games and he tied a career-low .694 OPS.
Castellanos has $20 million left on the final year of the five-year, $100 million contract he signed as a free agent in 2022. The Phillies could release him or attempt to find a trade partner while eating a significant amount of his remaining money.
Of the Phillies regular outfielders last season, only Brandon Marsh remains under club control. Prospect Justin Crawford will also factor into the club’s plans.
Garcia is the first significant addition from outside the organization. The Phillies offseason got rolling last week when they signed designated hitter Kyle Schwarber to a five, $150 million contract.
Brandon Holveck reports on high school sports for The News Journal. Contact him at bholveck@delawareonline.com.
