Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Schwarber is back in the National League East.
The rumored Mets target this offseason is signing with the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Jim Salisbury. The deal is reportedly four years with an average annual value just under $20 million, Jayson Stark of The Athletic says.
Schwarber will now get another opportunity to enact revenge on the Mets for the 2015 playoffs. He signed a one-year deal with the Nationals last season and rewarded them with his first career All-Star season and soul-crushing single-handed defeats of the Mets.
The lefty outfielder was traded at the deadline from Washington to Boston. He finished the season with 32 home runs and 71 RBIs in just 113 games. He slashed .266/.374/.554 along the way.
Schwarber is still a liability defensively with -5 defensive runs saved in the outfield and -4 at first base but he would’ve been a great fit for the Mets as their designated hitter.
Schwarber ultimately wouldn’t have room to fit on the Mets. New York has been unable to find a suitable trade partner for any of J.D. Davis, Dominic Smith, or Jeff McNeil, leaving the Mets with an abundance of options at the DH spot.
It shouldn’t be all that surprising that Schwarber didn’t end up a Met. General manager Billy Eppler publicly stated the Mets weren’t likely to add another bat less than a week ago.
New York could’ve used Schwarber’s services, especially since he’s a left-handed power bat but the way the roster is constructed doesn’t allow for it.
Schwarber now joins a Phillies team that hasn’t been overly active during free agency. They signed former Mets Jeurys Familia and Brad Hand to their bullpen since the lockout ended. Corey Knebel was their lone acquisition prior to Dec. 2.
Philadelphia still has a long way to go in filling out their roster so don’t expect this to be their final move. They’re still looking for at least another outfielder, corner infielder, and possibly someone up the middle.
