Kyle Schwarber had a clear reason why he re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies over the offseason.
Kyle Schwarber was one of the most sought-after free agents on the market over the winter. He was fresh off a National League MVP Finalist season, slugging 56 home runs with a .928 OPS.
Many teams would have paid top dollar for his services, but in the end, Schwarber said he always wanted to re-sign with the Philadelphia Phillies and come back to the city of brotherly love.
Schwarber was mic’d up during the Phillies matchup against the Chicago Cubs on FS1 on Tuesday evening and talked about that experience and the process of being a free agent.
“That's kind of the biggest thing, though, is you wanted to respect the whole [free agent] process. You get to go into free agency again, but there was always that thing that just pulled me back,” explained Schwarber.
Mar 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber (12) runs the bases after hitting a two RBI home run during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesWhat was that thing that pulled the 33-year-old back to Philly? It was the talent on the roster and the belief that this core, both at the plate and in the field, is skilled enough to reach the playoffs every year and give themselves a chance to win a World Series.
“The team we have, you can't really ask for more when you have with guys here that are, you look at the paper, and it's star-studded: pitching staff, offense, defense, coaching staff, top to bottom organization,” continued Schwarber.
“And, knowing that we've always had a chance to make the postseason, that's the biggest thing. What else can you ask as a player? We play this game to win championships, and we got a championship-caliber, roster, and we wholeheartedly believe that.”
Even though the Phillies are off to a slow start to the season, there really is still talent and plenty of time to put it all together and be the best team in baseball by the end of October.
If Schwarber keeps this up, there’s a good chance he’s headed for Cooperstown once his playing career is over. The big question is, would he go in as a Philly or a Cub, considering he won a World Series with Chicago in 2016?
That said, if Philadelphia does manage to accomplish its unfinished business and win a championship with Schwarber on its roster, it might not be a question in the end. Schwarber has put his faith in the Phillies, and that’s ultimately why he chose to come back.
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