MLB Rumors: Kyle Schwarber's Hometown Team are Serious Contenders to Sign Him

December 04, 2025 ,
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber celebrates during 2025 game.

Free-agent slugger Kyle Schwarber is drawing serious interest from the Cincinnati Reds, and multiple reports say Schwarber himself is “interested in a possible homecoming” to Ohio. 

At the same time, the Philadelphia Phillies, where he just cranked a career high 56 home runs and finished second in NL MVP voting, are widely expected to put a richer offer on the table. Sentiment points toward Cincinnati, but the early money edge belongs to Philadelphia.

Kyle Schwarber’s Reds homecoming dream vs Phillies reality

From Middletown, Ohio, Schwarber grew up not far from Cincinnati, and the idea of returning home to anchor a young Reds lineup is clearly appealing. 

Great American Ball Park is one of the most hitter friendly parks in MLB, and Statcast data suggests his power would play even louder there. If all of his 2025 contact had been in Cincinnati, projections say he would have finished with around 58 homers instead of 56. 

He already owns 89 career home runs against NL Central opponents, so a return to the division would feel pretty familiar.

The Reds improved from 77 to 83 wins in their first season under Terry Francona, with an exciting core that includes Hunter Greene, Elly De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte and Spencer Steer. What they do not have is a true middle-of-the-order hammer. 

No Cincinnati hitter topped 22 home runs last year, and the team finished just 21st in MLB in homers. Plug Schwarber in as a full-time designated hitter and he instantly becomes the lineup anchor and veteran tone setter for a group that is just entering its competitive window.

The complication is that the Phillies are not going away. Schwarber has averaged nearly 47 home runs and over 100 RBI per year across his four seasons in Philadelphia, and the team has reached the postseason every year with one World Series trip. 

They know exactly what he means to their offense and clubhouse, and early reporting suggests they will “almost certainly” offer more money than the Reds can comfortably spend. 

For a 32 year old slugger eyeing what is likely his last massive contract, it is tough to ignore that leverage.

How the Reds could actually afford a Kyle Schwarber deal

Most projections peg Schwarber in the five year, 140 to 150 million dollar range, with some estimates even pushing 30 million dollars annually. That is far beyond anything the Reds have ever handed a free agent. 

Team president Nick Krall has indicated payroll will stay around its 2025 level, which leaves maybe 20 to 25 million dollars of wiggle room after arbitration and existing commitments. That alone makes a straightforward, high-AAV contract extremely difficult.

To make it work, Cincinnati would almost certainly need to get creative. One path would be following the Los Angeles Dodgers blueprint and using heavy deferrals, similar to what they once did with Ken Griffey Jr. and what the Dodgers later did with Shohei Ohtani. 

Schwarber has already made close to nine figures in career earnings and has roots in the area, so a backloaded or deferred structure could be palatable if it raises the overall guarantee while easing the near term hit on the Reds’ books. The club could also trim some arbitration costs by shopping players like Gavin Lux or other mid-salary pieces to open space for a true impact bat.

Unless the Reds ownership steps outside its comfort zone, the safer bet is still a Phillies reunion, but the Schwarber to Reds dream is real enough that it could just come true.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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