Per sources, the club has agreed to a deal with free-agent outfielder Kyle Schwarber. The bopper will assume duties in leftfield given the departure of Andrew McCutchen. He also has experience at first base.
Schwarber posted a .266 average with 33 homers and 71 RBIs last year while splitting time with Washington and Boston. He hit .297 when leading off last season and .312 when hitting second, so he will fill the void of a left-handed bat at the top of the order for the Phillies.
The Phillies targeted Schwarber as early as last November, but talks stalled when the lockout halted all free-agent activity.
Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philly was first to report the signing. The deal is pending a physical, with reports indicating it’s a four-year contract worth about $20 million per year. The club has not confirmed the agreement.
Schwarber, 29, spent six seasons with the Cubs but was non-tendered following a lackluster 2020 season when he hit just .188 and posted an OPS+ of 88. He signed a one-year deal last season with Washington before being traded to Boston at the Trade Deadline.
Health was an issue for Schwarber last year as he missed much of July with a hamstring strain. He returned to action in August and played a pivotal role in lifting the Red Sox to a postseason berth, hitting .291 with seven homers over his final 41 games.
The biggest knock on Schwarber is his glove. He doesn't have great range in the outfield and is a below-average defender. Yes, defense has been a problem over the past several seasons for the Phillies, but the hope is that his contributions at the plate outweigh his limitations in the field. This is also where the addition of the universal designated hitter could significantly help the Phillies as it relates to lineup construction.
