Reds' pursuit of signing Kyle Schwarber comes with a costly twist

There's one free agent in particular that Cincinnati Reds fans have been dreaming about. The idea of bringing home Ohio native Kyle Schwarber is tantalizing, as is his prospective presence in the Reds lineup.

This is a team in desperate need of an infusion of power. Ranked 21st in homers (167) and slugging percentage (.391), adding a guy who just crushed 56 homers would be a wondrous upgrade. Even better, he's a left-handed hitter with pop, something the Reds desperately lacked as their lefties combined for just 37 homers in 2025, the third-fewest in the league.

As perfect as the fit seems at first glance, there are several issues that likely prevent it from coming to fruition.

Several hurdles prevent the Reds from pursuing Kyle Schwarber, including one that is often overlooked

The two biggest obstacles that exist between the Reds and an actual pursuit of Schwarber are the monetary commitment and lack of defensive versatility he presents.

Spotrac projects a four-year $99.6 million contract for Schwarber, giving him an average annual value of $24.9 million. With a $118.3 million payroll in 2025, such a deal would take up roughly 21% of the Reds salary expenditure. Even if we believe that riding high off a playoff berth, while entering year two of a more lucrative TV deal, that Cincinnati will spend more in 2026, a contract of that size is still quite the stretch.

As for the roster fit, Schwarber hasn't regularly played the outfield for a while now, and while he was never known for his glove, his defense now as he approaches his mid 30s is abysmal. The Reds prefer to rotate players through the DH spot, and while the quality of Schwarber's bat might make them reconsider the strategy, the price tag will still give them pause.

However, even if the Reds were to agree to pay such a lavish price, there's another hidden cost that the wooing Schwarber presents.

The Philadelphia Phillies are likely to extend him the qualifying offer. He'll reject it, of course, but that will attach draft pick compensation to him. For the Reds, that would mean surrendering their third-highest draft pick as penance.

Nick Krall values his draft picks, and with the Reds' farm system ranking among the worst in the league, it's unlikely that he surrenders an asset that could prove integral to rebuilding the talent funnel.

The Reds are always going to watch their pennies, and as a result, building a reliable pipeline of cost-controlled talent is a must. Therefore, spending on a free agent who has the qualifying offer attached is likely a non-starter, even if the fit is otherwise perfect.