Sep 10, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) celebrates his home run with first base Bryce Harper (3) during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Eric Hartline
Yesterday, it was president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski declaring that the Phillies "would love to keep him as part of the organization" in regards to Kyle Schwarber, who is putting together a monster contract year.
Bryce Harper also spoke Schwarber's future in an episode of "Phillies Extra" with Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer released Thursday.
"Yeah, I mean, I don't see him playing anywhere else," Harper said when asked if he could imagine Schwarber on another team in 2026. "Obviously, I don't make those decisions.
"But as a team leader and a captain and everything else, he brings so much value to our team. Not only on the field, but off the field as well," Harper continued. "We have such a good clubhouse and he's one of our main guys of why we do. And so, we bounce stuff off each other all the time. I have so much respect for Kyle and what's he's done in this game. Like you said, he's become just such an impact bat, not just for our team, but in all of baseball."
It should be pointed out that Harper acknowledged that he is not in charge of baseball operations, though it would be naive to think that his opinion doesn't carry any weight on matters like this. Of course it's a feather in Schwarber's cap to have Harper in his corner.
Schwarber launched his 19th home run of the season in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader with the Atlanta Braves. Even as someone who has hit more than 45 home runs twice in a season, Schwarber is on pace to set a career-high in homers this season.
Ronald Acuña Jr. knew 😂
(Via @jakekolp9)
pic.twitter.com/928jE8Gs7A
He is 32, and almost exclusively serves as a DH at this stage in his career. Both are worth considering when Harper and Trea Turner are each signed into their late-30s.
But it feels like the Phillies will have to find a way to make things work with Schwarber entrenched at the DH for the foreseeable future, because the alternative of losing him in free agency after the season sounds pretty bleak.
