The Philadelphia Phillies have a big decision to make this offseason that could affect their chances of winning the championship. Kyle Schwarber, who hit 56 home runs and drove in 132 runs last season, is at a crossroads as he enters free agency at age 32. If he leaves, the lineup will be missing a huge piece. Team President Dave Dombrowski addressed Schwarber’s future with clarity and urgency.

“It is a real priority to bring Kyle Schwarber back, and Kyle knows that,” Dombrowski stated.

The front office knows that Schwarber is an almost exclusive DH and is getting older, but his offensive dominance means that he needs a huge contract to stay in Philadelphia.

In 2025, Schwarber had a performance that defined his career and made him the best power hitter in baseball. His exit velocity was in the 98th percentile, his barrel percentage was in the 99th percentile, and his hard-hit percentage was in the 100th percentile, which is the highest it could be. The designated hitter has hit more than 45 home runs a year over the past four seasons in Philadelphia. This makes him a candidate for the NL MVP and the most sought-after DH on the market.

Now, the push to secure Kyle Schwarber comes after a bitter postseason exit.

Dombrowski acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, reflecting, “We are not satisfied,” following their NLDS defeat. He admitted the Phillies “faced the wrong club” when they met the Dodgers, praising their opponent’s pitching as “as good as he has seen.”

The 96-66 regular season champions saw their dreams of winning the championship fall apart in four games. They lost 2-1 in the 11th inning after pitcher Orion Kerkering made a throwing error that ended the game.

The Phillies had real hopes of winning the World Series when they entered October after dominating the NL East, but the Dodgers showed them how weak they were when it mattered most. Kerkering’s bad throw in extra innings highlighted the frustration of the season, which had so much promise but ultimately yielded little success.

So, the front office is now determined to make changes around its main offensive weapon.

Alvarado’s return signals bullpen reinforcement plans

The front office is planning its offensive future with Schwarber, and the Philadelphia Phillies are fixing the pitching problems that hurt their playoff run. Jose Alvarado’s expected return for the 2026 season is a calculated bet on redemption.

Alvarado was suspended for 80 games for using performance-enhancing drugs, which meant he missed most of the 2025 season and couldn’t help his team in the playoffs. But his performance at the start of the season showed why the Phillies still believe in his future.

In his first 20 games before the suspension, the left-handed reliever stood at a 2.70 ERA, 25 strikeouts, and seven saves, which showed how good he was at closing games.

During the team’s end-of-season press conference, Dombrowski addressed the reliever’s status.

“It sounds like Jose Alvarado will be back next year. Phillies have a $9 million club option, but Dave Dombrowski said that decision will be made later,” MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reported. The measured response reflects the organization’s awareness of both Alvarado’s potential and his recent struggles.

People were really worried about how he played after being suspended. Alvarado only pitched eight times, and his ERA of 7.50 was glaring. He let up three home runs and struck out only seven batters.

Meanwhile, the Phillies traded for Jhoan Duran from Minnesota at the trade deadline to make their bullpen better. So, if they keep Alvarado with Duran, Matt Strahm, and Tanner Banks, they will have enough depth to compete with the Dodgers and other teams next October.

Winter will reveal the rest…