Los Angeles, CA – October 08: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies prior to Game 3 of a National League Division Series baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
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The Philadelphia Phillies executed perhaps the most consequential move of the Major League Baseball offseason so far on Tuesday.
The team announced that it had re-signed Most Valuable Player Award candidate Kyle Schwarber, with reports indicating the new contract is worth $150 million over five years.
“Following a frenzied free agency that saw efforts to sign Schwarber by the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and even small-market teams in Pittsburgh and his hometown Cincinnati, a late push by Philadelphia secured the 32-year-old a rare big-money, long-term deal for a designated hitter,” Jeff Passan wrote for ESPN.
With Schwarber officially returning, the Phillies can turn their attention to some other outstanding offseason tasks. First and foremost, that could include a new contract for long-time catcher JT Realmuto. And it might include some changes to the outfield and bullpen as well.
But Phillies manager Rob Thomson added that, with Schwarber back in the fold, the team could be looking to make a batting order move with franchise slugger Bryce Harper next year.
“More specifically, Thomson hinted at flipping Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the batting order,” the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber wrote. “Schwarber batted behind Harper for a month early in the season before the latter missed a month with an inflamed right wrist. When Harper returned, he batted third, with Schwarber cemented in the No. 2 spot.”
Thomson indicated that he would like to flip that alignment, which could have big ramifications for the two players involved. With Harper getting some better protection from Schwarber, rather than the other way around, the first baseman might see his offensive numbers return to their typical level.
With Harper mostly batting after Schwarber, he slashed .261/.357/.487 in this past season. The year before that, Harper posted a .285/.373/.525 slash line. That dip led to some speculation about whether or not Harper could ever return to his “elite” level of production. And that might be pushing the manager to consider the change.
“Harper was protecting Schwarber and Schwarber is having at that point a career year, ” Thomson said of this past season’s batting order, per Lauber. “I just didn’t want to mess with it… But yeah, I’ve thought long and hard about it.”
With Thomson hinting at a major change for Harper following the return of Schwarber, the Phillies could go with a new look next season even though their biggest move has been welcoming back a familiar face.