The main goal for the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason is to bring back Kyle Schwarber. The left-handed power bat has been a staple on the roster for quite some time. However, with his age climbing, bringing him back still carries risk.
“The Phillies should not re-sign Schwarber to a multi-year contract. Not signing him will hurt the club offensively and the front office would need to have a plan to replace the home run hitter. However, what if they bring him back for multiple years and he begins to decline? Either decision brings a certain amount of risk,” TBOH’s Matt Grazel wrote. “This roster needs substantial changes. While unpopular and risky, the decision not to re-sign Schwarber represents the best chance for Dombrowski to shake up the roster, which is necessary at this point.”
If Schwarber does return, the NL powerhouse could also swoop up Kyle Tucker.
“Tucker, a 28-year-old, four-time All-Star, still stands poised to strike it rich despite struggling with injuries and (surely related) declining production in the second half. His future still looks bright enough to warrant a big payday, so expect one of the typical big spenders to snatch him up. Prediction: Tucker signs with the Philadelphia Phillies,” Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley wrote.
The Phillies are in a strong position for Tucker, especially as his end-of-year comments suggest the Chicago Cubs are out of the picture.
“We’ll see what happens. Don’t know what the future is going to hold. If not, it’s been an honor playing with all these guys and wish everyone best of luck whether it’s playing next year or not with them,” Tucker said.
Given the deals the Phillies have been handing out recently, it isn’t hard to imagine Tucker ending up in Philadelphia. Unless the Los Angeles Dodgers simply outbid them, this seems likely to be the direction it goes.
The Phillies would get stronger—if Tucker can stay healthy. This potential deal carries high risk but also high reward.
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