High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - THE KYLE SCHWARBER EMERGENCY POD!!!

Episode Date: December 9, 2025

Kyle Schwarber has signed a 5-year, $150 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. James Seltzer and Jack Fritz give their immediate reactions to the move in this emergency recording of High Hopes. Presented by Miller Lite. To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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sponsored by Miller Light, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies, tastes like Millicay, Philadelphia, is celebrate responsibly Schwartz. Fritzy, how you doing, pal? Look at you. You're like just bouncing. Your joy is so evident on your face. I mean, what a day for you.

It's been quite the 12 hours. It's been quite 12 hours. You're a happy guy. Yeah, I mean, holy cow. So, and let's not also burn the lead. old Topper got a like the Phillies like it's just

they're safe the city it's just like it's like they have to annoy me just a little bit with it and I we talked I expected Topper to get a contract extension they're not going to do a lame duck thing but it's like so like don't be so obvious guys like really really you have to take the short

everything and be like let's sneak this right in here oh oh it's like guys wow wow you're throwing stuff you're throwing stuff over the town I almost knocked my water over. I caught it. It was an amazing catch. So worked up that old, the old topper.

So, and it was so funny. Because yesterday, the reporters were like, hey, are you guys going to extend Rob Thompson? And then did they forget that they were going to do that? And then today, they were like, oh, here we go. Here's your extension, Rob. We forgot. Oops. So Schwab's is back.

And it's interesting. It seems early a little mixed reaction on Schwerver being back. and I guess here's my really really I feel like it's pretty pretty joyous is there has there been a well so I think I think people are happy they did something I don't think there's a big it so let me just flesh out kind of where I'm at with the Schwerber thing um the one thing that there's already seeing is is this is just another example of them running it back so my my counter to that is well, you can still have your core of pieces and core of players that is the makeup of your team without, like it just happens to be the year the Cowell Schwerber is hitting free agency. So I know it seems like running it back, but you also have to keep your good players and not having a guy with his power in the lineup does hurt them.

So I think they can still make other changes. I do think, by the way, I think JT's coming back. I think that that's going to be, I think, two years, $30 to $32 million with a club option for a third year, and that's the way they make the whole thing works. They'll get $15 million a year, whatever. So I understand those two. But there are going to be other changes.

And I think maybe now it's not going to be another signing. Like, I don't think they can go out and now sign Cody Bellinger. Would I love them to go spend $150 million over six years on Cody Bellinger? sure i i would like that i think the next move most likely for a change a difference making move would be a a trade i still think there is that that possibility but you know schwarber coming back on was something that i think had to happen um you know we would have talked ourselves into like go get bichette or go get tucker or go get a belliger but that kind of felt like change up just to change it up.

I think that we've had this take for a couple years now. I think in that locker room, he is indispensable. And I think that he is, he is, this team's Darren Dalton. And I think there would have been a real big leadership void had he not been there. And I think Kyle Schwerber meant more to the Phillies than he meant to other teams. So for the standpoint of at least they got Kyle Schwerber back, at least they're going to win 90 plus games again, at least that, you know, the idea of we got to go and finish the job now. I still like that.

And I don't, the whole run it back thing, well, I also want to keep good players here. I don't want to take a step back. I don't want to have it be or we go to an 83 win season, 85 win season, just because you can't run it back. So, you know, there's obviously a lot of reactions to it, but that's kind of my general first thought coming in is, I think, Kyle Schwerber meant the most to the Phillies. I am glad he's back. Having his power and the lineup is big. I hope it's not the end-all-be-all.

I hope it's not the big move and it's just Schwerber coming back and just J-T going back. I don't think it's going to happen money-wise, but I think that there could be some kind of trade out there. So overall, I'm glad that Schwerver's back. I think it's the big money move. I agree with you. I think there are other things that will happen.

And look, you know, they didn't really have much choice. You know, we did our perfect off seasons and both of us said that we didn't love the situation they were in with the, you know, aging players and the potential for Harper and Turner and Schwerber and J.T. and all these guys to be in their mid to late 30s together and aging and all that. But we yet with all that said, both had Kyle Schwerber re-signed in our perfect golf season. Like it was just, it felt like even though it's not a perfect situation, like it was something they absolutely had to do. And look, I think with the numbers that we're getting thrown around, you know, 5.30 a year, like, it's okay. You know, it's kind of what, you know, I was worried it was going to go more. I know.

It's a lot. It's a lot for a guy who's going to start the year at 33 or it's age 33 season or whatever. Sure. You know, who doesn't play a position. It's a lot of money. I get that. But I just, to all the points you made. And just from a lineup perspective, I mean, the second most home runs on the team last year was

Harper, 27. Then it was 18 and 17. And it was Cassianos and Kepler. Like this team. And Kepler might not even have a job this year. Yeah. No power, zero power. And yes, like we've talked about the game moving towards Toronto and putting the

ball and playing all that, but like still need home runs. You know what they did in the playoffs? They had a lot of home runs. Flat did a lot of runs. Like without Chorber, this lap just felt barren of something. It felt like it was, you know, destitute from a power perspective. And there was no one on the market and no trade candidate. you know, other than Pete Alonzo, I suppose, which none of us wanted,

there's no other way to fill that void. There was no other option. And that's not even talking about all the off the field stuff, which look, I, you know, you could flip it and say, hey, they've had Trovers Lear and they haven't won anything. But I think that when you hear as much as you do about how important Chorber is to any team, I just, I don't think it's a one-to-one. I don't think they haven't won because of Schwerber as a leader.

I think that it's a positive. So it just feels like it feels like they had to have him back and they got him back at the price that was the market price and not too much more. And it, you know, it is what it is. It's exciting to have them back. It potentially could age poorly with the group they have, but they had to do it.

This had to happen. And you know what, man. It's fun. It's fun, right? Sports are supposed to be fun. The Eagles have not been fun all season long. It's like a root canal watching that team. Like the end of Philly season wasn't fun.

You know what's fun watching Kyle Schwerber hit massive dongs? Like that's fun. So if nothing else from a sports fan perspective, like I am excited that Kyle Schwerber is on my team. And you know what, man, I wasn't, Kyle Schwerber is a Philly. And I'm glad that he's going to end his career. 500 home runs here, buddy. Gonna have him? Let the 500 home run.

chases on harper and schwarber chasing down 500 at about the same time he's a schwerper's 160 i way i believe i think he's 160 short of 500 but so look at that it's a five-year deal that means he's just got to average a little over 30 a year and he'll get there like i know that's a lot towards the end of the contract but if he has 50 again if he has 45 like he like i think kyle shriver's going to have 500 run which is crazy i do i do crazy so so i just i like that Kyle Schwerber is going to be a Philly. He's going to be a Philly for life. And we've talked about it from the standpoint of,

I think he's going to age well. He's not going to play the field. He's just going to be a DH. He's already gotten into better shape. The bat speed is the bat speed. And Big Poppy had the same kind of career arc. Now, Big Poppy was a better average-wise hitter. But still, like, sluggers can age well.

and the batsby he's not going to where he's got he's not going to be off his he's not going to be running around in the fields so that'll hurt him and i was thinking about this too because when you're looking at it from uh you know valuation standpoint cody bellinger who again i would have liked but he's what two years younger than kyle schwarber part of the appeal of cody bellinger is what he does in the field well he can't play center field anymore he's already a declining from that standpoint. He's more of a corner guy, which is fine. He's a really, really good corner guy, and he could stand at first base. He could play first base. But when that goes, three years from now, you're paying similar money for a corner outfield guy that's a 25 home run guy. I would bet, I would make the bet that Kyle Schwerver in the DH spot for the next five years is going to hit between 240 and 260, fluctuate, wait there and a minimum of 35 home runs a year that's valuable i mean that that is valuable i look

at the lineup and i it's been the with this way for a couple of i still think they're a bat short you know kyle schwarber as the piece doesn't that's not well he's already here to the point you made at the beginning of the pod like they had to have him it's not necessarily that they're just running it back because they have them back they have to do more to make this lineup better he was already here. Right. Kyle Schwerver, in my perfect world now, it's Schwabber batting fourth, Harper batting third, and if they could land the plane and put Catel, I know Catel Marte is 302.

Oh, my God. Can you imagine? Just lean into the mid-30s guys. It just got. The Phillies retirement home. Who cares? Who cares? Look, here's a thing.

If you win a World Series, who cares? You got to win a World Series. Totally. And again, this is, we're all just spitballing here. But I've been thinking a lot about Marte and like making another trade and Gailb reported yesterday that, you know, you're looking at financially, no one within the Phillies have said that they're just going to be able to sign Schwerber and J.T. And that's pretty much it. And my first thought was actually more about trade candidates rather than, again, another big signing of Bellinger, a Bichette, a Bregnan, from that standpoint. If you could tell Marte, say 592 left on that deal.

It's an unbelievable deal for that guy. It's a really, really solid deal. Buckson, if he becomes available, which the twins said the other day, no, but I also, you still don't want Bucksin? I can't sell you on Bucson. He's, one a year he stayed healthy in his career. Like, no.

Fresh legs, fresh legs? No, I can't do it. I can't do it. Three years, 45 million. So. It's a great. contract. It is a great. It's a great contract. It wouldn't, it wouldn't be a disaster because of the contract. It's such a fair price for the risk. I just personally am terrified of a firebox. And I totally get that. So I guess the Schwerber thing is about him being a, a piece of the puzzle, not the centerpiece. And I think, you know, money wise now, he's going to be the centerpiece. I don't, if we walk into next year and Schwerber and JT are just back and they, like trade for Jake Myers or whatever I'll be yeah like that that's disappointing so again

like we've already said he was important to bring back you just hope that that's not you hope that that's not it's you hope that that's not it so yeah yeah and look I I I totally agree with the aging thing we've talked about it but like his wrists are so fast he is such a quick swing like I don't think that's going away anytime soon at the power is is, you know, so natural and the swing is so tight. Like, I just, I just don't see him aging poorly. Like, I don't, I'm very confident in Kyle's short aging, especially de aging, especially your point that he has, you know,

gotten in good shape. Like, when you see him in person, you know, when you're next to him, it's like, he's not fat. Like people call him like fat. He's not, he's felt. Like, he's in shape. And then on top of that, too, like, he has improved. Like, he has shown as a hitter.

just in his time in Philadelphia that he works on things, that he gets better, that he adapts. And like, that's what you need when you eat, right, you need someone who's going to understand their body, understand where they're at,

and change as it goes. And he's shown that he's willing to do that. Well, he's set a record for home runs off left in his best career of his best season of his career at 32. Yeah. Yeah. Now,

they'll concern that there, obviously, is his contract year, but he doesn't strike me as someone that just like gets paid and kind of checks out. that he doesn't really, he doesn't strike me as that. I think he wants to get another world title, add that to his, he seems like a winner. And I was already starting to get disappointed from the standpoint of, Kyle, either you want

to come back and you want to finish a job in your affiliate or you want to take the most money out there. And what do you want? What do you want to be? Let me ask you a great question. Yeah. Do you think he took the most money out there? Uh, I do.

I do. I do. I think probably the Reds and Pirates were more. more in the four range and the Phillies to the fifth year in a perfect world. The question is, did the Mets, did the Red Sox? Any of these teams coming out, we just saw those who didn't see it because of the Shorber News, Dodgers signed to Edwin-Dia. Yeah, so.

I hate them. I know. I know. I know. I know. But, yeah, now Tanner Scott and him at the end of the end of the games and Tanner Scott probably bounced back year. Oh, and how about Rokees-Zazaki?

Who the hell knows what they're going to do with it? I know. So, so the Mets kind of being. a little frugal here, I guess, in a sense. They went three years, $51 million for Devin Williams. They didn't really get in the Shorbers. I didn't buy, by the way, the Mets and the Shorber Sweet Space at all. I bought it as a potential, like, attempt to up the price.

I didn't think they were a real, I didn't think Castro was going to sign it. Well, especially because so does me, the age in three years. So, but my biggest fear with this, I feel like people are like dumping on the Mets already. and oh, why are they not spending money and stuff like that? I'm just letting you know that if if Scooball gets traded and he's not a met, then Steve Cohen's a massive fraud because they have the farm system to get it done. They have obviously the money to get it done. I would be really surprised if Scooball, if he gets moved is not a met.

So that's great. He's going to get moved at some point. Maybe not dissolved. They're not paying him. tigers. No, I know. I mean, they should probably trade them this offseason. Yeah, they should. They probably should. I mean, they should pay him, but they're not going to, but they should pay him. I mean, that's great. Their first

offer was like four years, 80 million. What a joke. Like, that, that's the guy you pay. You pay that guy. Yeah. That's you pay. Yeah. Yeah. So, um, so yeah, I'm not ready to dump on the Mets grave yet. I said, yeah, I didn't buy them. And Stearns is smart. Look, we know David Cerns is a smart baseball guy. Like, they're, they're, they're, they're going to be well run. Yep. So, so, yeah, I didn't really buy them. The Red Sox I worried about from the standpoint of need. I think, I actually wonder if a lot was there. And they knew him. I mean,

they had him there. Cora loved them. Yeah. Cora, love them. But, you know, I like the idea that Kyle Schwabre views himself as, as a affiliate wants to come back and finish a job and got pretty good. I mean, I just got market value for him. And he didn't drag this thing out, which I, which I appreciate. So now they can kind of, you know, plan out the rest of the offseason, probably get JT done maybe this week, and then, you know, figure out what to do with Cassiano's. Cassiano's out of here and maybe trade boom, probably trade boom and kind of go from there. But, you know, getting the big one out of the way early, making sure that Swarper's back in the fold. And, you know, I'm sure the, I'm sure the locker room's

thrilled. I'm sure the guys are. That's for sure. I'm sure they're pumped. And look, we haven't said his name yet, but, you know, credit to John Middleton again. Opening in the checkbook. He's. continually done this, you know, in this, you know, era, you know, since Harper and the super, supercharging everything, like, he keeps spending money, you know, he keeps spending money. And this is a big chunk of money. He's going to pay JT.

And look, he's going to have to, you know, because that's kind of the way this team is built right now with these big contracts. You're going to have to find ways to supplement it. If you want to keep contending with, you know, guys as they turn into, you know, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, you know, you got, you got, you draft the bell ball ball and all that. But I, if nothing else, like to the, you know, blow it up, this and that, like, all those people. I appreciate that, like, Middleton, Dombrowski, those guys are, are invested in winning and they're committed to it.

And they're going to keep spending to try and make this thing happen. Listen, everyone says, everyone says, like, they're okay with a step back until you go through it. Yeah, you're right. Of course. I mean, look, the Eagles won the Super Bowl this calendar year in 2025. And people are ready to fire the coach, a quarterback. And, like, I get, like, they're horrible right now. But it's like the Super Bowl, what, nine months ago, bought them no great.

No time. Not that's a city. You know what I mean? So think about, like, a Phillies team that lost in a Ryan Kirkering last year coming out and stinking, like, imagine. Yeah. Yeah. So we would have been fine. You know, we would talk about the draft.

all that good stuff. Yeah, we would have pivoted. And the other thing that I think has to be brought up is the All-Star Games will be in Philly this year. Yeah. Kyle Schwerber is going to be in the home run derby. I'm sure that they wanted him to be in a, I know it's hard to plan. You don't make a signing this big off that, but you're definitely happy at that he signed

that's part of it. Yes. Yes. 100%. So I'm, I'm happy. I'm really happy Schwerber's back. It's not how I felt when Nola resigned. When Nola resigned, I was like, all right.

I get it you know same same it was like I don't love this deal but I get it and I didn't want him to be a brave and all that and mechanical change and all that and whatever but we weren't like yeah look at this cut like I do feel it's the the running it bag itself is frustrating as I you know but like in and of itself Kyle Schrober five years 130 million like I'm totally 150 excuse me I'm at 30 million a year yes 100 50 yeah the you're right let's get the numbers right customer five years under 50 million you know what I am good with that I think that's a fair price and I'm happy yeah yeah so he's back now before we get out of here

looks like we're gonna get Donnie baseball on the bench coach job the least surprising move of the offseason like the moment of Toronto was like well he's coming here yeah the bench coach thing I was like oh okay all right cool conveniently opens up. We talked about it before already when it, you know, initially was a mention and all that.

But like we both said a no-brainer. I think it is a home run hired. Yeah. Yeah. So Donnie Baseball. Thompson extended. It was good to see. It was going to see wheels, the Sixers game last night.

That made my heart happy, you know, seeing him, see them, smile. And look, they said he's been throwing, which is good, you know. Yeah. And he did look happy. Yeah. Ah, can you, like, bring wheels back and look. Yeah, we're back. And look, I know one wants to hear it.

But like, to your point, I think bringing Troy back when they bring J.T. back, like, they're going to, assuming health, they're going to be a playoff team again. And, you know, you just got to keep taking shots the way baseball is now get there and get on a run and you got a shot. You know, so it's not, it's not perfect, but they're taking shots. Now give me the cool trade. Give me the cool trade. Whether it's Marth, well, Marthais. So Marth is going to be really interesting. Seems, I think he's gonna, I think he's gonna, I think he's gonna, I think he's gonna, and I wonder if they're able to get. To third? No, I think he's gonna. Outfield. I think he's, oh, I'm like, oh, I think he meant positionally. I was like, okay. No, I think he's, I think he's, I think he's, I think it's, and it's, they want pitching prospects in return. If I, can they get it done without putting painter on the table is, is, is really the, the big question here. A lot of people assume that it's, it's, it's gonna be painter. But, but.

Does Gage Dot Neroon get you close? You get a first round pick last year, and Gage is pretty MLB ready-ish. You get an interesting second-based, third-based prospect, who is a top-five prospect in their system. You get two top-five prospects, by the way. And then a valuable second baseman, who can replace Ketal-Marthe from the standpoint

of good defense, doesn't make a lot of money. I don't know. I do think it gets too close. Look, I think it's there. And look, it's all dependent on what other teams are offering and all that, but I think that's, I think that's a fair offer. I mean, again, he is 32. I know it's a good contract, but you're buying his 33, 34, 35 seasons.

Like, that's not a home run in the way that, you know, 27 year old, the profile that he has. Yeah, like, so let me ask you the follow-up question that, though, the Diamondbacks say, we'll give you him for Painter. That's it. What do you do? Yeah, I'd probably pass. I can't do it. I agree.

You can't do it. I'd pass. Again, I would move Painter in the right deal, but, and Marte is freaking awesome, but the age, like, I would train for a, a 27 year old could tell Marte in the exact same spot, you would do that deal. I get it. Yeah. Yeah. So they got to be smart about Painter. I mean, they got to be smart about Painter. I do think that. He's a part of the plan this year, too, theoretically, you know. I do think that Aiden has jumped him on the untouchable market. I think. I think. I think Aiden is more untouchable at this point than Painter. I mean, he had a better, you know, even though it was just a month, but, you know, Paineer struggled. So it's fascinating. And the stuff, the stuff to take a step back.

So you hope that a full off season where he's not pitching in the fall league straight into spring training, it was worn down by the end of the year. So you hope that the stuff takes a step back up and upticking the stuff. So either way, an exciting day, an exciting day. Welcome back. What a thrill. And JT. we'll be around for that and then like you know Dave can you give us a trade pod that'd be really cool

yeah something like the Lizardo trade something like the Lizardo trade yes please all right go to your show uh how about it a day I'm happy for you buddy thank you yeah it's everything's going your way right that's about time you know you know it's about time the eye test got back on track. It's, you know, it got too far out there where, and it's just good to know the old eyes are still working. That's the main takeaway. That's the main takeaway. So I will try not to be too happy from two to six. Yeah, you're doing a great job. Yeah, so far. Yeah. Phil save the season, or Phil save the city for usual. Yeah, I mean, look, if nothing else, we have spring training to look forward to because it's a Eagle teammate winning anything. So,

you know, we'll say, we'll say. Yeah, that'd be funny. You should do it. What's the opposite of a heel turn a what were they called a like face uh you know the baby face that uh you know good wrestlers yeah turn positive they're positive yeah you do a baby face turn and then there's some things i like there's some things i like last night and we're done uh we'll be back soon uh j t signing whatever until done he's worth himself what's up it's draymond green i'm back for my 14th NBA season and my podcast, The Dremont Green Show, is back too. This season, I'm breaking down games, reacting to the biggest NBA stories, and sitting down with teammates, rivals, and culture shapers.

And trust me, I'm not holding back on the court or on the mic. Two new episodes every week. New segments, big conversations, real basketball, talk for the real hoophead. Listen to and follow the Dremont Green Show wherever you get your podcast. We're back, we're better, let's get it.