Reds’ dream of a Kyle Schwarber homecoming just got wrecked by MLB insider

Kyle Schwarber — yes, the one from Middletown, Ohio — is set to become a free agent this coming offseason. Schwarber is on pace for 57 home runs this season, and his impending free agency has some Cincinnati Reds fans dreaming of him signing on to play for his boyhood team next season. Yeah, right!

Sure, it's fun to dream about Schwarber coming home to play for the team he grew up watching as a kid, but anyone who's been paying attention for the last two decades knows that the Reds are not going to shell out the kind of money it's going to take to bring the All-Star slugger back to Cincinnati this winter.

Thankfully, MLB insider Jon Heyman threw some cold water on the idea of Schwarber signing with the Reds. During a recent interview with Lauren Shehadi on MLB Network, Heyman said, “I think I'll be surprised if he goes anywhere else (other than Philadelphia).”

Reds Rumors: Dreams of a Kyle Schwarber homecoming just got wrecked by MLB insider

Quite frankly, it shouldn't take comments from Heyman, or any other MLB insider, to realize that Schwarber will not be signing with Cincinnati this offseason. We're talking about the potential NL MVP, not a former All-Star two years removed from his best season — which is the type of player Cincinnati typically targets in free agency.

That's not to say that fans won't hear rumblings during the offseason of the Reds' interest in Schwarber. In fact, if any Major League club doesn't do their due diligence and at least inquire about his price tag, the entire front office should be fired.

But we're talking about an organization in the Reds that allowed players like Nick Castellanos to walk during free agency, and decided to trade Luis Castillo rather than offer him a market-value contract extension. Do you really think they're going to back up the Brinks truck for a 33-year-old designated hitter?

The Reds are already on the hook for the rest of Jeimer Candelario's salary next season, meaning they're already $16 million in the hole before the first pitch is thrown on Opening Day. There's no way Cincinnati is going to serve up a contract offer to Schwarber — one that will assuredly be worth at least $120 million over four years.

Sorry, Reds fans, but it's not happening. Cincinnati could, however, turn their attention toward a few of their own this offseason. Rather than chasing free agents — something that rarely works out for the Reds — perhaps Cincinnati's front office can look to lock up some the organizations young talent instead.

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