The Phillies’ divisional rivals, the Atlanta Braves’ pitchers, might still have nightmares about August 28. Four swings. Four home runs. One man made four trips around the bases, turning what should have been a close division game into a 19-4 rout. With those homers, he became the 21st player in MLB history to blast four home runs in a game. However, things might become complicated for the Phillies this offseason, and it might not be as easy for them to keep him as they thought.

That slugger is Kyle Schwarber. The Phillies signed him in March 2022 for four years in a deal of $79M. He has been everything they hoped for: electrifying at the plate, steady in the clubhouse, and a forced reset for the DH job. Since joining the club, he has just been outshining at the plate. This year? He has the most home runs (49) and RBIs (120) in the NL, and he is right behind Shohei Ohtani in OPS, with Ohtani’s 1.001 beating Schwarber’s mark.

Now that his contract is ending and there’s no extension talk yet, the narratives are becoming interesting. Emphasizing exactly that, Jeff Passan of ESPN didn’t hold back in his most recent column. He listed a number of teams that would be interested in signing him during free agency. Passan wrote, “And although remaining in Philadelphia makes the most sense, enough teams have holes at DH — looking at you, Texas, San Diego, Atlanta, Houston, Detroit and Cincinnati — that no amount of labor unrest will cause Schwarber’s market to dry up.”

That market dry up? Well, he’s 33 years old, and even if there is trouble, like a possible lockout or strike, teams will still want to go after Schwarber.

So, how can the Braves benefited by including him? Currently, the Braves’ main DH is Marcell Ozuna. He has played that role the most times in 2025, particularly in recent series against the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. But Ozuna’s bat hasn’t been enough to bring stability. The lineup is thinner as they are missing All-Star third baseman Austin Riley and Jurickson Profar’s disappointing offensive comeback. Adding Schwarber would give an otherwise unstable setup the pop and flexibility it needs.

Meanwhile, John Middleton, the managing partner in Philadelphia, hasn’t been shy about talking about it. “We need no motivation whatsoever when it comes to Kyle Schwarber. We love him. We want to keep him.” But there is no sign of an extension yet, just a mix of conditional hope and true doubt. And if the front office didn’t offer a deal and Schwarber’s movement happens, the Phillies might end up signing another Kyle from the Chicago Cubs!

If Schwarber walks, Phillies could pivot to $400M Kyle Tucker

Jeff Passan has opened a fresh door, just like Phillies supporters hold on to the prospect of re-signing Kyle Schwarber. He warns that Philadelphia needs to change course quickly if Schwarber leaves. Kyle Tucker, a star corner outfielder for the Cubs, may be their Plan B if the slugger leaves, according to Passan.

Passan says, “The Philadelphia Phillies could desperately use a big corner outfield bat, particularly if (Schwarber) takes his talents elsewhere,” and mentions the Phillies, Giants, and Cubs as teams who are likely to be “in the mix” for Tucker’s services.

But getting Tucker won’t be easy or cheap. Passan says that the deal will be worth about $400 million, and he stresses that top talent like him always finds a market.

When looking at different situations, Schwarber has sentimental and proven value. His power, presence in the clubhouse, and fit in Philly make him loved. Tucker, on the other hand, is more versatile on defense, younger, and has more power in left field. If Schwarber decides not to play, Tucker is not just a backup option; he’s a smart choice for improving the Phillies’ offense in the next chapter.