"Kyle Schwarber got tread on his tyre" - Phillies insider against signing star DH to multi-year contract

Kyle Schwarber will start the final year of his 4-year, $79 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025. The slugger has been among the key figures in the team's leadership group.

While his contributions have been noteworthy, not everyone in the Phillies community is certain of a long-term contract for Schwarber.

On the Phillies Show podcast, co-hosts Jim Salisbury and Todd Zolecki, along with former general manager Ruben Amaro, were answering some of the questions related to the Phillies' upcoming season. One of the questions posed was whether Schwarber will be extended beyond 2025 and if so, for what duration.

To this, Salibusry answered that the organization would be best suited to hand a one-year extension to the DH, but there is a high chance he will find a multi-year contract elsewhere.

"I would love to get him on a one-year extension, but I think he's got a tread on his tyre and I think he's a good player, a difference-making player on the field and in the clubhouse and he's going to want more than one year.

"He owes it to himself to seek more than one year, unless he decides he wants to go year to year. So, I think you come at him with a one-year extension, he might just ride it out, say 'I can get a three or four somewhere else', so would love to have him," Salisbury said. [31:18]

Kyle Schwarber's unique leading-off-hitting stats

One of the reasons that there is doubt amongst Phillies fans and insiders about Kyle Schwarber is his strikeout stats. As a team that is looking to score more consistently, their leadoff hitter has struck out 215 and 197 times in the past two seasons. But while Schwarber has had a high strikeout rate, he has also walked 126 and 106 times respectively.

This is unique for a leadoff hitter as the 31-year-old either strikes out, reaches base on a walk or goes full monty.

Schwarber has hit 208 RBIs in the last two seasons, including 85 homers. While he sported a below-par .197 average in 2023, he improved to a .248 this year, showing his ability to improve. If he is able to remain consistent, the Phillies might be prompted to make some space for him in their future plans.