ORLANDO, FL — There was no one who had a better morning at the baseball winter meetings Tuesday than Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson.
Thomson not only learned that he’s getting the team’s most valuable player back in Kyle Schwarber, signing him to a five-year, $150 million contract, but Thomson received a two-year contract extension himself and vowed to finish his career in a Phillies uniform.
The Phillies were devastated after losing their first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers in October, believing they had the team to win their first World Series title since 2008, only to crumble in Game 4 at Dodger Stadium, losing 2-1 in 11 innings on a walk-off error by reliever Orion Kerkering.
Now they plan to run it back again with Schwarber, the heart and soul of their team, who hit a National League-leading 56 home runs while also being the Phillies’ clubhouse leader.
“We’ve always wanted him back,’ Thomson said. “He’s so different than most of the guys I’ve ever been around. He’s a great player, and he knows how to bring the heartbeat of the clubhouse down when things are going rough, not only in the clubhouse, but individuals as well.
“He’s just a huge part of our ballclub. … He does so much in the community, so much in the clubhouse. I mean, there’s more to him than there are a lot of guys because he just brings a lot to a lot of different people.’
Schwarber, who finished runner-up to Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani in the NL MVP race, was also pursued by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds. The Phillies were hoping to avoid guaranteeing him the fifth year but knew they had to up the ante to assure he’d return.
Schwarber will be 37 years old by the time his contract expires, but Thomson says he has no worries that he’ll age well throughout the contract.
“I think just his work ethic,’ Thomson said. “The body’s gotten better over time. He’s in the best shape of his life right now, and I don’t think that that’s going to change. He’s so intelligent. He sees the game a little bit different than a lot of other guys, and he works at it, watches a lot of film.
“I think there’s a really good chance that he’s going to maintain this level.’
Well, maybe not hit 56 homers and drive in 132 runs each year, but he can still be one of the game’s premier sluggers.
“This was an unbelievable year for him,’ Thomson said. “So I don’t think we can expect this every year, but I still think he’s going to be a high-level performer.’
Schwarber, who hit at the top of the lineup last season, could be moved to the heart of the order in 2026, Thomson hinted, providing protection for Bryce Harper. Harper, the two-time MVP and the Phillies’ highest-paid position player, hit .261 with 27 homers and 75 RBI last season with an .844 OPS, his lowest since 2016.
The Phillies’ signing of Schwarber may signal an end to their pursuit of adding Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger or Bo Bichette to the roster. The Phillies had a luxury-tax payroll of $308 million last season and privately say they lost about $75 million. They still are hoping to re-sign catcher J.T. Realmuto, which leaves no room for any other nine-figure players.
“Even if we sign both of those guys back,’ Thomson said of Schwarber and Realmuto, “there’s still going to be some changes. And there might be some change within the lineup, as far as the order, which could infuse a little bit of energy.
“We won 96 games last year. It’s not like we’re not doing well. We’ve got a good club. No matter what happens, we’re still going to have a good club.’
Still, there’s pent-up angst after another early exit.
“There was some frustration there,’’ Thomson said. “It was a hard-fought battle. I think everybody in that clubhouse felt like last year was the year. So, it was heartbreaking, to tell you the truth. …
“Guys are a little bit frustrated that we’ve been there, we’ve been close, and haven’t gotten it done. I think that’s great motivation going into next year.’
While no one was more emotionally devastated by the defeat than Kerkering after his throwing error, Thomson says he’s not worried about Kerkering’s psyche, believing he’ll bounce back.
“He’s doing good,’ Thomson said. “I talked to him a lot obviously after the game, the next day. The following day he came in to pack up and we had another chat. I talked to him a few weeks ago. He’s in a good spot.’
One player who definitely won’t be returning is outfielder Nick Castellanos, who complained about his playing time and criticized Thomson’s communication skills. The Phillies are desperately trying to trade him and could even release him before spring training even with $20 million remaining in his contract.
“I haven’t talked to him, to tell the truth,’’ Thomson said, “but I still respect Nick. At the end of the day, what he wants to do is play every day. You can’t dog a guy for wanting to play every day. I’ve been around plenty of people who didn’t really want to play every day. …
“I think that in some cases it is good for guys to have a change of scenery and go to a different place that motivates them in some certain way, or helps them in some certain way. Whether that’s the way it is with Nick, I’m not sure.’