Is anyone going to pay a DH?
That's the question ESPN's Jeff Passan poses, rhetorically, about Philadelphia Phillies superstar Kyle Schwarber.
And the answer, specifically for Schwarber, appears to be yes.
He's a free agent at the end of the season, and Passan writes that he expects someone to give him $30 million per year.
The Phillies will want to bring him back, Passan writes, but a bunch of other teams might want him, with Passan listing the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds.
"Kyle Schwarber will begin next season as a 33-year-old designated hitter, which is not the sort of résumé that often -- ever, actually -- leads to a free agent windfall. To which Phillies fans, in unison, would reply: He's different," Passan writes. "And they're right. Schwarber is. He leads the National League in home runs and RBIs. He's third in MLB in weighted on-base average behind Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, his two compatriots atop pretty much every measurable offensive category that matters. He plays every day -- literally all 139 of the Phillies' games -- and in late and close situations this year is OPSing 1.244, nearly 100 points higher than the next-best hitter, Ohtani. Beyond that, Schwarber is regarded as the stickiest of glue guys, a font of knowledge whose interpersonal acuity makes him invaluable in a clubhouse. Because of all he brings, Schwarber is going to get paid. Like, paid paid."
Passan also predicted that if Schwarber wants, he'll get at least four years on the deal.
Schwarber is up to 49 home runs this season. He's second in baseball to Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh.
He's hit 40-plus homers three times in his four Phillies season, with "only" 38 in the other.
As long as Schwarber hits like this, he'll be valuable. And someone is going to pay him very well with the expectation that he will indeed keep hitting like this.
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