For a while now, Kyle Schwarber has been the beating heart of the Philadelphia Phillies’ machine. Kyle Schwarber, a slugger known for his power and ability to launch balls, appeared poised to secure the NL MVP title. And truth be told, Schwarber made a big case.
But as the MLB power rankings dropped, the Phillies, despite a strong 65-49 record, fell short of one critical spotlight—the Dodgers. LA now jumped ahead and has a record of 66-49. And the man in the spotlight is Shohei Ohtani, given the two-way brilliance of his comeback. So suddenly, Schwarber’s MVP climb has a dark cloud looming over it.
Let’s not get it all twisted, though. Schwarber is not just having a good season; he is having a phenomenal one. He leads with 40 home runs, one ahead of Ohtani, and has 94 RBIs. This man is on pace to crack 100 RBIs before the weekend. With three 40+ homer seasons in four years in Philly, his name is, of course, one of the elite. Yet, it might not be enough for him to get the MVP honors, and Buster Onley answers why.
credits: MLB.COM
According to Olney, the narrative is not in Schwarber’s favor. He said in his piece, “Kyle Schwarber might not win the National League MVP Award, given how difficult it is for DHs not named Shohei Ohtani to win the honor. Schwarber currently ranks eighth in the NL in WAR, behind multidimensional players like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Kyle Tucker.“However, he did add that Schwarber is going to make big money in free agency in the fall. No matter where he lands, he will. And this is something even the former Marlins president talked about recently.
David Samson warned teams that Kyle Schwarber might demand big money come off-season. At Nothing Personal with David Samson, he said, “You can bet that Kyle Schwarber’s going to ask for close to $300 million in free agency.” Well, a $300 million price tag for a 32-year-old DH? Seems unheard of, and well, if he manages that feat, it would make him the second-highest-paid DH in baseball. Just only behind Ohtani! But honestly, he has earned the hype with his 171 homers across four seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies.
For now, Schwarber is smashing baseballs and chasing a title, and if this is his final dance with the Phillies, it’s for sure a powerful one. It all depends on whether Dave Dombrowski and his front office can meet that number. But one thing is for sure: Dombrowski knows what he is doing.
Philadelphia Phillies President delivers a deadline masterclass!
The Philadelphia Phillies knew they had work to do at the trade deadline. The bullpen was, after all, unraveling, and the outfield needed a boost. Plus, the loss of closer Jose Alvarado to an 80-game suspension didn’t help at all. The pressure was on Dave Dombrowski to deliver, and as usual, he delivered a masterclass on how to deal with the trade deadline.
Dombrowski did a triple play; he got center fielder Harrison Bader and flamethrower Jhoan Duran from the Twins and signed veteran reliever David Robertson. Just like that, the Phillies’ two biggest issues were dealt with, and now October hopes are back on again. The bullpen now has structure, too. Duran and Robertson anchor the back end, and Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering will probably shift to manageable roles. As for Bader, he brings elite defense and a solid bat. This is what the Philadelphia Phillies need in center field.
And let’s not forget the kicker—Dombrowski didn’t even touch the top prospects they have. From Andrew Painter and Aidan Miller to Justin Crawford, they are all in Philly. But then again, it’s Dombrowski; what can one expect if not this? Remember his days with the Red Sox back in 2015? He boldly had said he needed a starter, a closer, and an outfielder. He got Price, Kimbrel, and Young. This time? Duran, Robertson, and Bader.
Whether it’s experience or his instinct, Dombrowski again proved why he is one of the most trusted minds in baseball.
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