MLB Trade Rumors: 4 Notable Teams Still in the Running for Kyle Schwarber

Kyle Schwarber is thought by many insiders to be the next big free agent to be taken off the board. And according to insider Jeff Passan, there are still four contenders in the mix, with one favorite:

Passan wrote the following on Threads:

"Kyle Schwarber: The bellwether of the class. Schwarber’s market is healthy. He’s going to get years, and he’s going to get AAV, and at this point, he might be the likeliest of the big free agents to sign first. Unclear if something gets done before the meetings, but I’d be surprised if they end and he doesn’t have a team. The Phillies remain the favorite, with Boston, Cincinnati, the Mets, and others in the mix."

Phillies still the frontrunner for Schwarber

It certainly makes sense that the Philadelphia Phillies, the incumbent, are considered the frontrunner. He has been an indispensable member of that clubhouse and that lineup since he arrived in 2022. The Phillies have made him their top priority this winter, though for some reason they haven't locked him up yet. His 56 home runs this past season represent a career high, and mean that he will land himself a massive contract, as Passan suggests, despite his age (33 by opening day), and the fact that he is limited to DH only.

Boston Red Sox regret letting Schwarber get away in 2021

The BoSox are still lamenting the fact that they let Schwarber get away in free agency after they had obtained him at the trade deadline in 2021. All he did for them was post a .957 OPS in his 41 games there. They could really use his punch in their lineup.

New York Mets pose a viable threat to steal Schwarber from their NL East rivals

The Mets have emerged as a solid rival to steal Schwarber away from Philly. They recently traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo (in return for second baseman Marcus Semien), and they need another big bat near the top of their order. We know that owner Steve Cohen won't be scared off by the price tag, projected to be in the $150M range over four or five years. Losing him to their division rival would be a big blow for the Phillies.

Cincinnati Reds are in on Schwarber as well

The Reds are a very intriguing team on this list of Schwarber contenders. They could really use a slugger like this in their lineup. How much would the Reds want to get him on their side? He has hit more home runs (26) and driven in more runs (68) against the Reds (in 96 games) than against any other team.