Reds dream All-Star target stirs free agency buzz, sets table for offseason rumors

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber is already setting the table for a busy Hot Stove season. We're not even a week past the All-Star break, and there's already buzz about the potential for the Ohio-native to come home during the 2025-26 offseason.

During an interview over the All-Star break, Schwarber spoke about his affinity for his hometown Cincinnati Reds. “Being a baseball fan and growing up and watching Cincinnati baseball for your whole youth, that’s how you fall in love with baseball, I think it would draw your attention, right?" Schwarber said, "Being able to play for your childhood team is something that I think it’d be awesome.”

It just so happens that Schwarber is a free agent this coming winter. The slugger inked a four-year, $79 million deal with the Phillies back in 2022 and will be back on the open market after the 2025 season comes to a close.

Reds dream All-Star target, Kyle Schwarber, stirs free agency buzz

Do the Reds have any chance of bringing Schwarber home this coming offseason? Seeing as how the only two players currently under contract for the Reds heading into the 2026 season are Hunter Greene and Jose Trevino, Cincinnati certainly has the funds available to sign the Phillies DH to a free agent contract.

Schwarber, however, has outperformed his current contract and will be looking to cash in following a tremendous run in Philadelphia. During his three-plus seasons in the City of Brotherly Love, Schwarber has hit .225/.350/.497 with 161 home runs, 371 RBI, and a 132 OPS+. That's type of pop the middle of the Reds' batting order would have Terry Francona smiling from ear to ear.

Schwarber will be arguably the second-best bat on the open market behind Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker — though both Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso have opt outs in the current contracts.

Schwarber will turn 33 years old just before the start of the 2026 season, and after being burned by back-to-back free agent flops — Mike Moustakas and Jeimer Candelario — one can assume that Cincinnati will be quite hesitant to hand out a mega-deal to an aging star like Schwarber. Teoscar Hernandez's three-year, $66 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers is likely where the bidding for Schwarber's services will begin this coming fall.

Will the Reds be willing to fork over $22-$25 million per season for a player who's limited defensively? Would Schwarber give the Reds a hometown discount? Both of those questions remain to be seen, but his recent comments certainly have fans speculating about a potential homecoming.

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