Red Sox reportedly ‘love’ star slugger Kyle Schwarber ahead of free agency

Boston Red Sox

Schwarber spent a half-season with the Red Sox in 2021 before becoming one of the game’s best power hitters with the Phillies over the last few years.

By Conor Roche

October 25, 2025 | 12:55 PM

2 minutes to read

Kyle Schwarber was only a member of the Red Sox for a couple of months in 2021, but that was apparently enough time for him to leave a strong impression with the organization.

The Red Sox “love” Schwarber and are expected to express “real interest” in him if the star slugger is unable to come to terms on a new deal with the Phillies early in free agency, MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported.

Schwarber, who’ll turn 33 in March, is set to become a free agent when the World Series ends and is expected to be one of the top hitters on the open market this offseason after another standout year with the Phillies. He led the NL in home runs (56) and RBIs (132) while posting a .240 batting average and a .928 OPS in 2025.

That’s certainly the kind of bat the Red Sox could use in their lineup, especially in the aftermath of the Rafael Devers trade. As Schwarber spent the last two seasons as the Phillies’ primary designated hitter, the Red Sox only hit 10 home runs among the 12 players who split time at designated hitter after Devers was traded.

In fact, even when the Red Sox had Devers, they haven’t had a bat like the one Schwarber has over the last four seasons. He hit over 45 homers in two of his other seasons in Philly and had a 38-homer season in 2024, proving to be one of baseball’s top few power bats. However, Schwarber had some slumps at the plate during his time with the Phillies as well, hitting .207 in his first two years with the ballclub.

But after logging a .244 batting average over the last couple of seasons, it seems almost certain that Schwarber will get one of the richest contracts in terms of average annual value this offseason. An ESPN poll of insiders projected that Schwarber would get a four-year, $131.8 million deal ($32.95 million average annual value) this offseason.

Whether the Red Sox have the money or not to take on that kind of deal could come down to whether they want to enter the luxury tax. Boston is roughly $25 million below the first luxury tax apron entering the offseason, per Red Sox Payroll. That number doesn’t take into account Alex Bregman’s contract for next season as he’s reportedly made the decision to opt out.

As for who else could be a potential suitor for Schwarber, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand recently listed the Phillies, Rangers, and Reds as his best fits for the star slugger. FanSided’s Robert Murray listed the Red Sox and Phillies as the best fits for Schwarber, writing, “you add Schwarber and don’t think twice.”

While the Red Sox reportedly “love” Schwarber, he also became a quick fan favorite in Boston during the 2021 season. He hit .291 with seven homers in 41 regular-season games before hitting three homers in the postseason to help the Red Sox reach the ALCS. He signed a four-year, $79 million deal with the Phillies after that season.