The Philadelphia Phillies have long laid claim to one of the top payrolls in baseball, and their payroll could expand even further this offseason if they sign Kyle Tucker in free agency.

But will the Phillies actually be serious players for the star outfielder this winter?

The GM meeting are this week, so we will likely get some clarity on whether or not Philadelphia will have a shot of landing Tucker in the coming days, but one AL executive has already revealed some intel on the Phillies' plans of pursuing the 28-year-old.

“They are players if they can’t get [Kyle] Schwarber back,” the exec told The Athletic.

So essentially, Philadelphia will only make a push for Tucker if it loses Schwarber, which is actually somewhat surprising given that the Phillies have long been tabbed as one of the top potential landing spot for Tucker if he decides to bolt Chicago (which most expect will occur).

Schwarber was brilliant for Philadelphia in 2025, slashing .240/.365/.563 with 56 home runs and 132 RBI over 724 plate appearances. He also played in all 162 games.

However, the Phillies have been unable to get over the hump the last several years, and in both 2024 and 2025, they were bounced from the NLDS in spite of winning 95-plus games.

Changes are certainly needed in Philadelphia, so it would be pretty disappointing if the Phillies opted not to target Tucker just because they re-signed Schwarber.

Philadelphia desperately needs outfield help, and featuring Tucker, Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the same lineup would be terrifying for opposing pitchers.

Tucker slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 homers and 73 RBI across 597 trips to the dish this past season. Don't let the rather underwhelming numbers fool you; he played through a fractured hand for a good chunk of the season and also spent time on the injured list due to a calf issue.

When the four-time All-Star is healthy, he is one of the best players in baseball and is a genuine five-tool talent.

Tucker is expected to bag a contract in the neighborhood of $400 million, so he will absolutely be costly. But he would certainly be worth it for a Phillies squad in need of a boost.