The Cincinnati Reds Have Serious Interest In Kyle Schwarber
The Cincinnati Reds are going to be a real threat to sign Kyle Schwarber this offseason, trying to bring him closer to his roots. Schwarber grew up in Middleton, Ohio, and could look to finish out his career close to where it all started. The star slugger is going to get paid a ton of money this offseason, finishing second in MVP voting and hitting 56 home runs.
Reds ‘Serious’ On Schwarber
The Cincinnati Reds are seriously interested in Kyle Schwarber, who is open to a homecoming, per Ken Rosenthal. With young, controllable pitching, the Reds can offer him a long-term contract that may deter other teams, such as the Phillies. His elite power would be exciting at Great American Ball Park and provide a needed veteran bat to their lineup.
They will be competing against multiple contending teams, so they’ll have to pay the high price for his services. Schwarber is expected to sign a four or five-year deal with an annual value of $30+ million. For most teams, the main concern isn’t the price but the length of the contract, especially since Schwarber primarily serves as a designated hitter.
Committing long-term to a player limited to the DH role limits a team’s roster flexibility and can create challenges if the player is sidelined or production declines. The perfect example is the yearly struggle the Yankees go through with Giancarlo Stanton.
Given these factors, the Reds need a bat like Schwarber if they want to have a chance to compete in their own division, let alone the National League. After re-signing Emilio Pagan to a two-year deal yesterday, Cincinnati needs to keep its foot on the gas pedal and give Terry Francona more pieces to work with.
Other Suitors For Schwarber
The Philadelphia Phillies remain the projected favorites to retain Schwarber this offseason. The Phillies’ lineup is projected as relatively weak heading into this winter, suggesting the club will prioritize retaining him. Dave Dombrowski’s main focus is expected to be re-signing Schwarber and JT Realmuto, and he will likely need to make creative roster improvements, which did not occur last year.
It appears to be a two-team race between the Phillies and the Reds. The New York Mets have also been connected to Schwarber. However, the fit in Queens is less apparent. Allocating well over $100 million to a full-time designated hitter may not align with the current state of their roster, which requires additional pitching and the retention of Pete Alonso.
The free agent market is experiencing significant fluctuations. Many high-profile players currently have no suitors. Signings are occurring well before the Winter Meetings, which is unusual compared to recent years. Activity is expected to accelerate when the Winter Meetings begin in three days.
