The Philadelphia Phillies are in a huge free agent battle to retain designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. There are plenty of interested teams vying for the fan favorite slugger, and one team has emerged as their biggest competition.
Schwarber's hometown team, the Cincinnati Reds, is a clear top suitor for Schwarber this winter, and could have the leverage needed to pry him away from the Phillies.
Such a scenario is on former MLB GM Jim Bowden's wish list in The Athletic this winter. While there's some clear bias for the former Reds executive, Bowden's wish-list for Schwarber is the fear of Phillies fans this offseason.
Former MLB GM Jim Bowden wishes Reds sign DH Kyle Schwarber
"Kyle Schwarber signs with the Cincinnati Reds for 5 years, $160 million," Bowden noted as his second wish-list item for this winter. "I think he probably returns to the Phillies, but I can wish this for Reds fans, can't I?"
This sentiment, that the Phillies are likely to re-sign Schwarber, but that the Reds are strong players, seems to be the consensus in free agency.
While the Reds are a very real landing spot for Schwarber, the Phillies have the upper hand with a willingness to spend more than Cincinnati this winter. But if the Reds are willing to offer a deal like the $160 million one Bowden proposes, then the Phillies might be in trouble.
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The Reds have the hometown advantage, and with Schwarber interested in playing for the Reds, all they would have to do is match the Phillies' offer, and they would be more than just players for Schwarber; they could be the favorites.
Schwarber is coming off a 56-homer season with 132 RBIs and an NL MVP runner-up finish to Shohei Ohtani. Most teams want to sign him this winter, and the Reds are likely the Phillies' biggest competition for Schwarber this offseason.
Bowden was a former general manager for the Reds, so his bias is showing here in his wish-list for the offseason. But, while only a wish from one individual, it's the scenario many Phillies fans fear this offseason.
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