The Phillies Must Re-Sign Kyle Schwarber
Kyle Schwarber had himself quite the All-Star break after he went 3/3 in the first-ever “Swing Off,” which was used to decide the winner of the All-Star game on Tuesday night. Schwarber hit three straight homers, clinching the win for the National League.
The three homers in three swings pushed him to win the All-Star Game MVP for the first time in his career.
While the Phillies would lose 2/3 to the Angels in this first series since the break, the weekend included some bright sides. Kyle Schwarber stayed hot and homered in his first swing back from the All-Star break. He followed that up with a grand slam in the second game of the series, which gave the Phillies their only win of the series on Saturday, winning 9-5. It was Schwarber’s 8th career grand slam and was the key turning point in the game.
Bryce Harper was another bright spot this week, hitting two homers in game one and then another in game two. Three homers in three games out of the break for Bryce Harper are a great sign. I had previously discussed how I felt he needed the All-Star break to rest and reset. His swing looks quicker, and his wrist seems not to be bothering him as much.
If Bryce Harper can stay hot, there is no reason why he can’t lead this team to a deep postseason run.
Phillies Add to the Bullpen
The pitching this weekend was inconsistent, but help for at least the bullpen is on the way. Late Sunday night, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reported the Phillies would be signing reliever David Robertson to a $5 million contract for the rest of the season. It will be Robertson’s third stint with the Phillies, with him previously being on the team in 2019 and 2022. Robertson is an experienced reliever, and although he is 40 years old, he threw for scouts on Saturday, and the Phillies liked what they saw.
For a team that desperately needs bullpen help, I don’t mind them bringing in another experienced veteran, especially getting a reliever without giving up assets. For those of you who aren’t happy with this signing, he was bound to sign somewhere else.
Schwarber Needs to Stay
Following the week Kyle Schwarber had, it is essential to note that the Phillies cannot afford to let Schwarber leave in free agency.
A player of his caliber, along with his personality, is essential to a successful team and a positive locker room culture. He adds a layer to this team that would be irreplaceable if he were to leave.
This season, Schwarber is slashing .251/.380/.559 with an OPS of .940. He has hit 32 home runs and tallied 72 RBIs this year. He has been a true spark to the offense at times when they have needed it. Truly, I don’t see a world in which Schwarber isn’t back with the Phillies next year.
I think Dave Dombrowski is too smart a baseball man just to let Schwarber walk. I don’t expect an extension to come until the offseason, however, so be prepared to wait.
Upcoming Week
The Phillies will spend the next week battling against two AL East teams. They start the week at home, taking on the Boston Red Sox (54-47) in a three-game series that starts Monday night.
They have an off day on Thursday before starting a three-game weekend series against the New York Yankees (55-44), a team that swept them in Philadelphia last year. The Phillies still hold a 1/2 game lead in the NL East.
Weekly prediction: Bryce Harper stays hot and leads the Phillies to wins in 4/6 games.
PHOTO: Jordan Godfree/Imagn Images
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Categorized:Phillies