Bryce Harper has made it crystal clear: he wants Kyle Schwarber to stay put with the Philadelphia Phillies. In a recent chat with the team’s MLB.com beat writer, Todd Zolecki, Harper didn’t mince words. “I don’t want him to go anywhere else,” he said. “And that’s not me saying anything to ownership or Dave [Dombrowski]. Obviously, they want him to. And I think he wants to be here. I think he likes the community. He likes where he lives. But also, you know, it’s nice to be wanted.”
Schwarber, now in his 11th MLB season, is in the final year of a four-year, $79 million deal he signed with the Phillies in 2022. As he approaches free agency, he’s making a strong case for himself. Through 40 games, Schwarber is tied with Aaron Judge for the major league lead in home runs (14) and boasts a .998 OPS. He’s been a driving force behind the Phillies’ 24-16 start, keeping them just a game-and-a-half behind the New York Mets in the NL East.
Harper’s sentiments echo the value Schwarber brings beyond the stats. “I was talking to somebody the other day,” Harper added, “and I was like, ‘Man, it would be weird not to have [Schwarber] in our clubhouse.’ He’s such a good leader. He’s such a good person in the community. Great family, great person. I think he’s a guy that obviously our team can build around.”
Schwarber’s impact is undeniable. ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently noted that it’s not out of the question for the 32-year-old designated hitter to command $100 million in free agency. “He is terminally productive,” Passan wrote. “He is an exceptional clubhouse leader. Nobody would blink at giving him $25 million a year, and a four-year ask—particularly in a class weak on high-end bats—is eminently reasonable.”
As Schwarber continues to rack up the numbers, his appeal only grows. His strikeout rate this season is a career-low 20.8%, while his walk rate has climbed to 16.3%, over two points above his career average. Harper recognizes this, acknowledging, “Obviously, he’s going to make a lot of money [as a free agent]. He’s going to be a very hot commodity on the market. He’s a guy that hits homers. He’s a great clubhouse guy and a leader. I hope he doesn’t get [to free agency]. He’s a guy that we can use for the next few years.”
For the Phillies, retaining Schwarber is about more than just his bat. It’s about leadership, community, and the kind of chemistry that wins championships. As the season progresses, the pressure is on to keep him in Philadelphia, where he clearly wants to be, and where Harper and the team need him to be.
