After rumors of the Mets, Pirates, Orioles, and Reds’ interest came and went, Kyle Schwarber re-signed with the Phillies on a five year, $150 million contract.
This can’t really be considered a shock, as
Schwarber had the best years of his career while playing in Philadelphia and the Phillies made it clear that bringing Schwarber back was a priority for the club. Over his four years on the Phillies, Schwarber hit .226/.349/.507 with 187 home runs and 434 runs batted in.
This clarifies the Mets’ options as the post-season chugs along. It always seemed like it would be a Schwarber or a Pete Alonso contract, not both, so it seems like the Mets will re-focus their attention on Alonso, even if there is reporting that the Mets are uncomfortable going above three years for Alonso, which may send him elsewhere. With the Orioles and Red Sox meeting with Alonso today, it seems like the Pete sweepstakes will be decided sooner than later.
Of course, it wasn’t Alonso, Schwarber, or bust. There are plenty of players, either in free agency or via trade who could be the big bat to complement Juan Soto for the Mets in 2026. But Alonso and Schwarber represented a clear path for a big bat. If Alonso departs as well, the Mets may have to get creative to replace his offense.
That said, the loss of both Schwarber and Edwin Díaz combined for a bummer of a day for Mets fans. Whether or not the Mets deliver some good news before the Winter Meetings wrap up remains to be seen.
