MLB Insider Believes Phillies' Kyle Schwarber's All-Star MVP Helps Free Agency Outlook

MLB Insider Believes Phillies' Kyle Schwarber's All-Star MVP Helps Free Agency Outlook originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber was the only Phillies player to go to the All-Star Game. And there, he more than made up for all the Phillies who were snubbed.

In the first-ever home run swing-off, Schwarber went 3-3, securing the lead and eventually the win for the National League. He was named All-Star Game MVP and earned the praise of his National League All-Star teammates.

But for the Phillies, this could spell bad news. During an appearance on Foul Territory, MLB insider Jayson Stark of The Athletic shared a belief that amid Schwarber's All-Star heroics, his trip to free agency received a boost.

Will Kyle Schwarber's performance in the All-Star Game help him in free agency? 🤔@JaysonSt explains why he thinks it will after speaking to players in the NL clubhouse after the game. pic.twitter.com/ZEfErLlxPi

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 18, 2025

"I've been honestly thinking about what does this do for Kyle Schwarber's trip to free agency," Stark said. "I think he was going to get paid, even though there's no precedent for a contract for a guy who fits his profile... Does this help Kyle Schwarber's trip to free agency? Well, I'm going to vote yes."

If Schwarber's heroics do lead towards the slugger netting a higher pay day, that could spell bad news for the Phillies. Hitting free agency is the most likely scenario for Schwarber.

Once he does, teams will be clamoring to bring him in. He's one of baseball's best power-hitters, and even though he's a primary designated hitter, teams around baseball would love to bring him in.

Philadelphia would also want to keep him, but if his price tag just increased due to his All-Star Game MVP, the Phillies could be in trouble.

While it's only speculation from Stark at the moment, the effects it could have on the Phillies are real. Schwarber is already one of the top names in free agency after 2025, and now, he might fetch even more on the market.

Schwarber signed a four-year, $79 million deal ahead of the 2022 season. He's been incredible his entire time in Philadelphia, but so far in 2025, he's been at his best.

With 30 home runs and 69 RBIs at the All-Star break, Schwarber is one of the league's premier sluggers, and his All-Star performance made him even more desirable.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.