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The Philadelphia Phillies have managed to stay afloat even without franchise star Bryce Harper in the lineup.
Since Harper was placed on the injured list, the Phillies have managed a 6-4 record as their starting rotation shines and their other hitters make due. Alec Bohm and Trea Turner have been particularly good in Harper’s absence, but the injury has also been a reminder of just how important Kyle Schwarber is to the offense.
Schwarber has been a big reason for the team’s success so far this season as he’s logged the second-most home runs in the National League, behind only Shohei Ohtani. But this could be the final year the Phillies can count on Schwarber because he has the chance to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the two sides had begun talks about a contract extension, but those have apparently failed to advance. Now, Rosenthal’s colleague Matt Gelb has indicated that the team is holding off on an extension in hopes that it can get a better sense of Schwarber’s value on the free market.
“I do not believe anything has changed since spring training,” Gelb wrote. “From Schwarber’s perspective, he wants to bet on himself this close to reaching free agency. Fair. And, from the Phillies’ perspective, they want to see how many clubs are interested in a DH who will be 33 next season. As good as Schwarber is — on and off the field — it’s a profile that hasn’t generated a ton of demand in recent years.”
The Phillies could avoid a higher price for retaining Schwarber by locking him into a below-market extension before he ever tests the market. But Gelb believes they will bet on the hunch that his next contract’s ceiling won’t be too high.
“My feeling is the Phillies will let the market for Schwarber develop, then match it,” he predicted.
Gelb added that several of the other big market teams, like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, already have designated hitters. That could give the Phillies some confidence that they can let their star hit free agency and bring him back on a reasonable contract when the time comes.
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