Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber had one of the best pre-free agency seasons for a slugger, but their spirited postseason run came to an end Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.
With the ball game tied 1-1, a throwing error from reliever Orion Kerkering meant that Los Angeles Dodgers pinch runner Hyeseong Kim was able to reach home safely to come up with a 2-1 walk-off win. Their third loss in the NLDS marked an end to not only their season but also potentially their association with Schwarber.
Schwarber was visibly emotional in the postgame interview as he reflected on his 2025 season, including thoughts on NLDS heartbreak, family and the organization. If he doesn't return to Citizens Bank Park, this may very well be his final farewell message to the fans.
“Yeah, I mean, it doesn’t feel good," Schwarber said. "You just make a lot of different relationships in the clubhouse, and you never know how it’s gonna work out, right? You just make so many personal relationships with guys, and you spend so much time with these guys throughout the course of a year, and they become family. And yeah, you just never know how it’s gonna go.
"But these guys all know how I feel about them. I’ve got a lot of respect for the guys in here — our organization, the coaches, the coaching staff, everyone, top to bottom."
Kyle Schwarber was visibly emotional speaking with the media after what might have been his last game as a Phillie pic.twitter.com/sZXRAcswtP
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 10, 2025
Schwarber explained the Phillies are a "premier organization" that is competitive every single year and also the fanbase that "cares" and treats you as one of their own.
Kyle Schwarber's free agency: Phillies can bring him back
Despite the possible hint with the farewell message, the Phillies remain one of the possible parties that can bring back the designated hitter on the new deal. Previously, he expressed a desire to stay in Philadelphia, saying he hopes to re-sign there. Phillies owner John Middleton has also voiced interest by saying:
“We love him. We want to keep him... We need no motivation whatsoever when it comes to Kyle Schwarber. He's great. We thought he was great when we signed him years ago. We thought he was great consistently through the years. There's nothing Kyle does that surprises us. No matter how great he is, we expect that from Kyle. He's a great person in the dugout. He's a great person in the clubhouse.”
Schwarber helped his case to earn big by hitting 56 home runs on the season. He could command a significant raise in free agency, potentially signing a $100 million+ deal.
One of the reasons why the Phillies may face less competition is that teams like the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers are already equipped with players who solely play DH. As such, the Phillies have the perfect mold for the left-handed hitter, and it could be only a matter of time before a new deal is struck.