This week’s mailbag covers Kyle Schwarber’s impending free company, what the Braves ought to do within the offseason, whether or not Trevor Story might decide out, why MLB killed August waiver trades, how Josh Naylor will fare in free company, the possibly weak 2026-27 free agent class, the possibilities the Dodgers signal Kyle Tucker, the Rockies’ younger bats, and extra.
Fred asks:
I am unable to imagine that John Middleton will let Kyle Schwarber play wherever else however Philly subsequent yr, particularly with the general drop within the Phillies’ non-Schwarber energy output this yr. Does a 4/125 extension preserve him away from free company?
Schwarber turns 33 in March. He is mashing this yr like by no means earlier than. Schwarber has already reached his first 4 WAR season, ought to fly previous 5 WAR, and will not be far off 6 WAR. His earlier career-high was 3.3 final yr. The bar could be very excessive for offense when you don’t have any defensive worth.
Concerning the time period, solely two DHs age 33 and up have achieved 4 years in free company: Nelson Cruz and Victor Martinez inside a month of one another in December 2014. They had been truly age 34 and 36, respectively, so I assume that is a (weak) case to truly go to 5 years on Schwarber.
To Fred’s query, sure – 4 years at $31.25MM per yr ought to undoubtedly preserve Schwarber away from free company. The Phillies have a $185MM CBT payroll for subsequent yr in the intervening time, given Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Ranger Suarez, Jordan Romano, and others coming off the books. There could be room to present Schwarber a contract with a $30MM AAV, and it was Dave Dombrowski who did that ill-fated V-Mart cope with the Tigers. However would this sort of contract with Schwarber be a good suggestion?
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