Mets Power-Hitting Target Opts To Stay In Philadelphia With Rivals On $150 Million Deal

One of the top bats available in free agency, Kyle Schwarber, has been taken off the board after resigning with the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million deal on Tuesday. The signing comes just a week after reports that the New York Mets were in the mix on the star designated hitter.

The reports that the Mets were in the mix on Schwarber’s bat gave some false hope for Mets fans who liked the idea of adding one of the game’s best power bats to a lineup that needs it, especially with the uncertainty surrounding the possible return of first baseman Pete Alonso.

Now that Schwarber has reunited with the Phillies, perhaps Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns and owner Steve Cohen are more willing to spend to keep Alonso’s slugging in Queens for 2026.

Schwarber’s contract comes off the back of a season in which he finished second place in National League MVP voting. The 32-year-old sent a National League-leading 56 balls over the fence in 2025 while driving in an MLB-high 132 runs. His 4.9 WAR was enough to make him the fourth-most valuable player on the Phillies last season, making it understandable why bringing Schwarber back was so important, even on a $30 million AAV deal.

The 11-year veteran finished the 2025 campaign with a slash line of .240/.365/.563 with an OPS of .928. Over the last five seasons, Schwarber hasn’t finished with an OPS+ under 121. His bat seems to only be getting better with age, which is good for the Phillies, who will have him under contract until he is 37.

It won’t be nearly as good for New York, however, who will now have to face him several times a year once again, as he chose to stay with the division rival Phillies. From being in the mix for Schwarber and possibly landing a sneaky deal with the slugger to being forced to face him multiple times a year, it’s a signing that has the potential to cause serious damage to the Mets for years to come.