Phillies' Kyle Schwarber gets gigantic $150M contract update as career year continues to impress

Phillies' Kyle Schwarber gets gigantic $150M contract update as career year continues to impress originally appeared on The Sporting News

The Philadelphia Phillies remain atop the NL East and are in a strong position to win it in back-to-back seasons. However, they will have to hold onto the lead without one of their best pitchers, Zack Wheeler.

“A timeline for Wheeler's recovery has not yet been determined, the team said, and manager Rob Thomson told reporters he won't know if and when Wheeler can return to the mound this season until they receive more information,” USA Today’s Gabe Lacques wrote.

Following the postseason, the Phillies will face a hefty payday—one large enough to keep Kyle Schwarber in the City of Brotherly Love. If they fail to retain him, Bryce Harper has already expressed how strange it would feel.

“I was talking to somebody the other day,” Harper told MLB.com. “And I was like, ‘Man, it would be weird not to have [Schwarber] in our clubhouse.’ He’s such a good leader. He’s such a good person in the community. Great family, great person. I think he’s a guy that obviously our team can build around. Obviously, he’s going to make a lot of money [as a free agent]. He’s going to be a very hot commodity on the market. He’s a guy that hits homers. He’s a great clubhouse guy and a leader. I hope he doesn’t get [to free agency]. He’s a guy that we can use for the next few years.”

If the Phillies want to keep Schwarber, the price tag could be around $150 million.

“He's going to fetch a large payday, and the Phillies could have a number to shoot for to avoid him leaving for another team. That number could end up in the ballpark of five years, $150 million, averaging $30 million per year. Some experts are saying that he could possibly ask for higher,” TBOH’s Matt Davis wrote.

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There is no doubt that multiple teams will enter the sweepstakes for Schwarber. However, the Phillies will undoubtedly try to bring their guy back. Since arriving in Philly, Schwarber has soared—but it could soon be time for him to take his wings elsewhere.