Expect the Philadelphia Phillies to have a completely new look heading into the 2026 season. The Philadelphia Phillies, wearing their powder blue throwback uniforms on the road for the second straight day, were knocked out in the Division Series for the third straight season. This was the Phillies’ last shot to make a run with the current core. They had the talent, the bye, everything—and it still didn’t work out. Now, after blasting 56 home runs this season, Kyle Schwarber, the core of the club, will hit the free agency market as one of the most coveted bats available.

While it hurts for the Phillies circle, no one’s feeling it more than Kyle Schwarber himself. After getting eliminated from the postseason contention, the thought alone that this might be his final season in Philadelphia really hit him hard.

“Yeah, I mean, it doesn’t feel good, you know. You just make a lot of different relationships in the clubhouse. And you never know how it’s going to work out, right? It’s just, you make so many personal relationships with guys. And you spend, like, how much time with these guys, you know, throughout the course of a year, and they become family.” He said.

Nobody in the Phillies’ lineup could match Schwarber’s combination of presence and power. While his 56 home runs are sure impressive, his 132 RBIs and .928 OPS also made him one of the most dangerous bats across the league.

However, more than any of these accolades, it’s Kyle Schwarber’s bond with the guys that makes it so hard for him to walk away. Hard enough that he was fighting back his tears while expressing it.

“You just never know how it’s gonna go, but these guys all know how I feel about them. I got a lot of respect for the guys in here, our organization, the coaches, the coaching staff, everyone, top to bottom.” He really made Philly his home after all.

Further, Kyle Schwarber expressed how lucky he feels playing for this organization. “You’re playing for a team that is trying to win every single year,” he said.

If we talk about re-signing him, the Phillies may not be able to. It won’t be easy keeping him. He’s 32 and is positioned for a multi-year deal worth north of $25 million annually. It’s a figure that could stretch even a big-spending payroll. So it would be pretty expensive for the Phillies to extend him, and so they might pursue a five-time All-Star to replace him.

Phillies to pursue $54 million star if Kyle Schwarber hits free agency

As the Phillies enter the off-season a bit early, some undesirable things may happen. Of course, primarily, it’s Kyle Schwarber’s potential free agency. He’s expected to command a lucrative contract. If and when he leaves, Fansided’s Mark Powell believes that New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso could be the answer for the Phillies’ void.

According to Powell, Phillies fans love Kyle Schwarber, and because of that, Dave Dombrowski will lead the charge to re-sign him. However, if the Phillies couldn’t match his price, which is likely to happen, then Alonso would make a capable replacement. He wouldn’t be cheap either, but could still be in the Phillies’ budget.

Pete Alonso—the home run king—slashed .272/.347/.524/.871 this season with 38 homers and 126 RBI across 162 games. While his prowess doesn’t actually match the 56 homers and 132 RBI of Schwarber, he makes up for it with better and doable contact.

If the Phillies fell short of retaining Kyle Schwarber, then Pete Alonso should be their top candidate to fill in for him. However, it should be noted that Alonso will be looking for a lengthy contract in terms of years.