Baseball: Boston Red Sox Kyle Schwarber (18) before game vs Houston Astros at Fenway Park. Game 5. Boston, MA 10/20/2021 CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163840 TK1)
Veteran left fielder Kyle Schwarber reportedly agreed to a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, according to Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Jayson Stark of The Athletic reported it's a four-year pact worth just under $20 million annually.
The news comes after Schwarber, who spent the second half of the 2021 season with the Boston Red Sox, declined his part of an $11.5 million mutual option for 2022. He joined the Red Sox in a midseason trade with the Washington Nationals.
Schwarber previously told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe that he was open to returning to the Red Sox, but it's no surprise he explored the open market.
The 29-year-old's free-agent stock was up after an impressive 2021 campaign in which he hit a career-best .266/.374/.554 with 32 home runs and 71 RBI. It was a bounce-back year after he hit .188/.308/.393 with 11 home runs and 24 RBI during the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Schwarber had been linked to the Phillies since early December.
Adding him gives Philadelphia more outfield stability. The Phillies can play Bryce Harper in right and Matt Vierling and Odubel Herrera in center.
Also, outfielder Andrew McCutchen left the Phillies for the Milwaukee Brewers in free agency, meaning Schwarber will fill an obvious hole in the lineup.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman also noted that Schwarber is a good fit for the Phillies because of his success in NL East ballparks. He has 32 home runs in 91 games, which Heyman noted would translate to 57 homers per 162 games.
Bryce Harper Teases Interest on IG in Japan's Yomiuri Giants amid MLB Lockout
Feb 28, 2022
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 28: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies heads towards third base during the Tuesday evening MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves on September 28, 2021 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
As indications point toward the delay of the 2022 MLB season because of the ongoing lockout, some players are growing restless.
Philadelphia Phillies star right fielder Bryce Harper took to social media Monday to tease the potential pursuit of a deal with Japan's Yomiuri Giants. Harper posted a picture of himself in a Giants uniform, saying he's "got some time to kill" and telling the team to reach out to his agent, Scott Boras.
MLB players have been quite active on social media today. Here’s Bryce Harper: pic.twitter.com/HicvVhOZcU
Harper is the reigning National League MVP after slashing .309/.429/.615 with 35 home runs and 84 RBI in 2021.
MLB has set a hard deadline that if negotiations end Monday with no new collective bargaining agreement, games will be canceled and players will lose salary.
But it looks like at least one player is ready to take matters in their own hands and seek other opportunities.
Former Dodgers Reliever Corey Knebel, Phillies Agree to 1-Year Contract
Dec 1, 2021
Los Angeles, CA - October 19: Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Corey Knebel delivers a pitch during the fourth inning in game three in the 2021 National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Phillies and reliever Corey Knebel agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract Wednesday.
The Phillies have signed right-handed reliever Corey Knebel to a one-year year contract, President of Baseball Operations David Dombrowski announced today.
Knebel spent the 2021 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, posting a 4-0 record with a 2.45 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 27 appearances.
Injuries have been a major concern for Knebel in recent years. He missed the entire 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and missed several months last season with a lat strain.
When Knebel has been able to take the mound, he's been a consistently stellar reliever capable of going multiple innings as an opener. He started four regular-season games and two postseason contests with the Dodgers.
The Phillies signing Knebel to a short-term deal is understandable given the litany of injury issues. If he performs as he did in 2021 and stays healthy next season, he'll be able to re-enter the market at age 31 and command a multiyear contract.
Knebel may also get a chance to serve as a full-time closer for the first time since 2017 if the Phillies are unable to land a more prominent arm in free agency.
Kyle Schwarber Rumors: Phillies, Marlins Among Teams Interested in Red Sox Free Agent
Nov 30, 2021
Baseball: Boston Red Sox Kyle Schwarber (18) in action, at bat vs Houston Astros at Fenway Park. Game 5. Boston, MA 10/20/2021 CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163840 TK1)
Free-agent first baseman Kyle Schwarber is reportedly generating interest from National League East teams.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported that the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins are among the teams pursuing the veteran slugger. Schwarber ended this past season with the Boston Red Sox after he was acquired from the Washington Nationals prior to the trade deadline.
Heyman pointed out that Schwarber would be a good fit for either Philadelphia or Miami considering his success in NL East ballparks. He has 32 homers in 91 games, which Heyman says would translate to 57 homers per 162 games.
Between Washington and Boston, Schwarber put up some of the best numbers of his career in 2021. The seven-year veteran slashed .266/.374/.554 and totaled 32 home runs. He played the season on a one-year, $10 million deal and declined his half of a mutual option in 2022 to test the open market.
Schwarber developed a strong connection with Red Sox fans during his short time in Boston. His signature moment with the team came at Fenway with a solo home run early in the team's AL Wild Card win over longtime rival New York Yankees. Schwarber said in October that he would be open to returning to Boston.
"This is definitely a clubhouse that I could see myself wanting to stay in. These guys are amazing," he told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. "This is a World Series clubhouse, and I would love to hopefully see if that opportunity comes back."
Schwarber's power bat would be a good fit on many teams hoping to contend next season. The expected implementation of the universal DH for 2022 opens up his options in free agency.
MLB Rumors: Latest on Nick Castellanos' Contract amid Phillies, Marlins Buzz
Nov 29, 2021
Cincinnati Reds' Nick Castellanos watches as he hits a sacrifice fly during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Cincinnati, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Free-agent outfielder Nick Castellanos is reportedly looking for a long-term contract this offseason as multiple teams pursue him following an All-Star campaign.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com called him "a great fit" for the Miami Marlins but suggested the National League East team could fall out of the running because he is looking for a seven- or eight-year deal.
Elsewhere, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported the Philadelphia Phillies reached out to Castellanos' camp, which is all the more notable because president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was with the Detroit Tigers when they selected the then-third baseman in the first round of the 2010 draft.
While there has been a run of contract agreements prior to a potential work stoppage Wednesday, Castellanos remains one of the best available players who could drastically improve whichever lineup he joins.
Giving him such a long-term deal could be something of a risk considering he turns 30 in March, but he has played the best baseball of his career of late.
He was a first-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner this past season for the Cincinnati Reds while slashing .309/.362/.576 with 34 home runs and 100 RBI. Every number in the slash line and the home run total represented career bests, and he fell a single RBI short of the career-high 101 from the 2017 season.
Castellanos hit 23 or more long balls in three straight years from 2017 through 2019 and had an impressive 14 in 60 games during the shortened 2020 campaign.
Philadelphia was a middling 15th in the league in home runs in 2021 with 198, while Miami was near the bottom at 28th with 158. Adding Castellanos, who has also played for the Chicago Cubs, would surely drive those totals up as either team looks to compete with the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves in the National League East.
Miami already added some offensive pop when Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported it agreed to a four-year, $53 million deal with former Milwaukee Brewers slugger Avisail Garcia, and the 29-homer outfielder would be quite the one-two punch with Castellanos.
Still, the reported length of the latter's desired contract could be an issue for teams looking to make a smaller commitment, even if he is a game-changing presence in the middle of a lineup.
Bryce Harper's Hall of Fame Case Just Got Stronger with 2021 NL MVP Win
Nov 19, 2021
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 03: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on October 03, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
"Overrated" is a word that's often been attached to Bryce Harper throughout his career, including after he had just put his signature on a $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in March 2019.
“It’s marketing. It’s star power," said one unnamed player to The Athletic. "But what has he done besides have one year?”
Well, at the time he had a Rookie of the Year, six All-Star selections and a National League MVP. And after his third and most successful season with the Phillies in 2021, he's now officially a two-time MVP winner.
Bryce Harper adds another MVP to his trophy case 🏆 @BRWalkoff
For what it's worth, the 29-year-old now has the 10 seasons that he'll need to be eligible for Cooperstown when his time comes. And especially in context of how often he's been called the dreaded O-word, his numbers are firmly in "better than you think" territory.
And the really scary part? He's only getting better.
Sorry, Juan Soto, But Harper Deserved This One
Unlike when he won his first NL MVP as a member of the Washington Nationals in 2015, Harper was not a unanimous selection by Baseball Writers' Association of America voters this time around.
Per the final tally, he got 17 out of 30 first-place votes. Juan Soto, who's since filled Harper's shoes as the Nationals' resident superstar, was next on that list with six first-place votes.
Even though the Nationals won just 65 games to the Phillies' 82, there were good arguments to be made for Soto as this year's rightful NL MVP. The simplest one is that he led all NL position players with 7.1 rWAR, though he likewise paced the field with a .465 OBP.
Harper? He barely cracked the top 10 with 5.9 rWAR. And while his .429 OBP was spectacular on its own, Soto's 36-point advantage isn't what you would call small.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 03: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Boston Red Sox at Nationals Park on October 03, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Harper did, however, lead Major League Baseball in slugging, OPS and OPS+ while also chipping in 35 home runs and 42 doubles. So even if Soto was better at the oh-so-important task of not making outs, neither he nor any other hitter had as balanced an offensive campaign as Harper.
Plus, Harper was clutch.
Not just in the sense that his OPS was north of 1.000 both in high-leverage situations and with runners in scoring position, but also in that he truly carried the Phillies when they needed carrying in the latter half of the season. In 73 games, he went off for an other-worldly .338/.476/.713 line and 20 of his home runs.
Granted, the Phillies still only went 38-36 in the second half and missed the playoffs for the 10th straight season. Yet it's remarkable that they weren't even eliminated from the race until Sept. 30. Because by then, Rhys Hoskins was done for the year with an injury and the likes of J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura were slumping.
Though the weight that Harper bore down the stretch of 2021 only helped his WAR so much, it did move the needle quite a bit for two other value metrics: win probability added (WPA) and championship win probability added (cWPA). These stats are pretty much just what they sound like, and Harper paced the National League in both categories.
You want an MVP? That's an MVP. Not just a great player, but a player whose greatness truly made a difference for his team.
So, About the Hall of Fame
In addition to being his second, Harper's latest MVP is also the fifth of one sort and the 15th of another sort.
For the first, Sarah Langs of MLB.com pointed out that Harper joined Jimmie Foxx, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and Frank Robinson as the only players to win MVPs for two different franchises.
For the second, from John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia comes this note about Harper joining 14 other players in winning two MVPs before his age-29 season:
Bryce Harper is just the 15th player to win multiple MVPs before turning 29 👀
Ernie Banks, Johnny Bench, Barry Bonds, Joe DiMaggio, Jimmie Foxx, Juan Gonzalez, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Dale Murphy, Stan Musial, Hal Newhouser, Albert Pujols, Frank Thomas, Mike Trout pic.twitter.com/RL3O0qkn4s
From either of these perspectives, Harper is a guy whose company is mostly Hall of Famers and future Hall of Famers. As omens go, that's a decidedly good one for his own chances of one day being enshrined in Cooperstown.
As for the numbers, well, that's where there's room for debate. Harper's 40.1 career rWAR, for example, is only seventh all-time for primary right fielders through the age of 28.
There are some Hall of Famers below him on that list, but the only one of recent vintage is Vladimir Guerrero Sr. And because he had staked his reputation on being a .300 hitter with power, speed and a thunderbolt arm, Guerrero was arguably a more complete player than Harper is now.
Strictly as a hitter, though, Harper is a rare sort.
You can distill the essence of his career down to unusual longevity for a 20-something, as well as his proficiency at both getting on base and hitting for power. Do this, and you find him on a short list of players with at least 5,000 plate appearances, a .390 OBP and 260 home runs through their age-28 seasons:
Bryce Harper: 5,482 PA, .392 OBP, 267 HR
Mike Trout: 5,514 PA, .418 OBP, 302 HR
Miguel Cabrera: 5,777 PA, .395 OBP, 277 HR
Albert Pujols: 5,382 PA, .425 OBP, 319 HR
Mickey Mantle: 6,054 PA, .422 OBP, 320 HR
Mel Ott: 6,646 PA, .415 OBP, 306 HR
Jimmie Foxx: 5,935 PA, .440 OBP, 343 HR
Three of the guys on this list are already in the Hall of Fame. The three directly below Harper inevitably will join them in the not-too-distant future. Again, another good omen for Harper.
It's also important to remember that in addition to the numbers, he's writing a story worthy of Cooperstown.
It was with a staggering amount of hype that Harper was introduced to the general public, first as a Sports Illustrated cover boy as a 16-year-old in 2009 and later as perhaps the best prospect ever after the Nationals drafted him No. 1 overall in 2010. So when he finally made his major league debut in April 2012, there was an inescapable sense that he couldn't possibly live up to what was expected of him.
If it were to be written today, though, his Hall of Fame plaque would note that he has.
The Road Ahead for Harper
So, all Harper really needs to do now is keep doing what he's been doing.
Namely, stay healthy and keep sharpening what some call "old people skills." He's only missed 28 games over the last three seasons, and both his patience and his power have been in especially fine form over the last two.
His walk rate, for instance, was in the 100th percentile in 2020 and in the 99th percentile in 2021. He's also had a barrel rate in the 97th percentile bothyears, with a total pile of those that eclipses all hitters not named Fernando Tatis Jr. or Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Lest anyone get the impression that Harper has been hitting at an elite level for just two seasons, it's more like two-and-a-half. Because while he got off to a slow start for the Phillies in 2019, he turned a corner in August and has hit .296/.417/.601 in 248 games since then.
Along with more of that, what would really help Harper's march toward Cooperstown is if he could actually play in some playoff games with the Phillies. Even better, maybe even win what would be his first ring.
This, however, is where he's but one of many cogs in a bigger machine. The success of this machine is in the control of president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, who simply must discover the means to break the Phillies out of the .500-ish purgatory in which they've been stuck for the last four seasons.
But if nothing else, he can rest a little easier knowing that the team's most expensive player is also its best player. And for now, literally the Most Valuable Player in the National League.
MLB MVP 2021: Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper Named AL, NL Award Winners
Nov 18, 2021
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 03: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels watches his home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park on October 03, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani was named the American League Most Valuable Player while Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper earned MVP in the National League.
Harper earned 17 of 30 first-place votes in a competitive race that saw five different players earn at least one first-place vote.
At the plate, the 27-year-old hit .257 with a .372 on-base percentage plus 47 home runs, 26 stolen bases and eight triples. His .965 OPS ranked second in the American League.
This would make him an MVP candidate on its own, but his pitching set him apart from the other candidates with a 9-2 record, 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts in 130.1 innings. The all-around production made him a no-brainer selection for the AL MVP despite great seasons from Toronto Blue Jays duo Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Marcus Semien.
Guerrero hit .311 and tied or led the league in home runs (48), runs scored (123), on-base percentage (.401) and slugging percentage (.601). Semien was nearly as good at the plate with 45 home runs and 102 RBI while also playing all 162 games and winning a Gold Glove at second base.
The production was simply not enough to catch the Angels star.
It was a closer race in the National League with finalists Bryce Harper, Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. all coming through with strong performances as well as other top contenders like Brandon Crawford and Trea Turner.
Harper led the majors with a 1.044 OPS while adding a .309 batting average, 35 home runs, 42 doubles, 101 runs scored and 13 stolen bases. He was also the only finalist on a team with a winning record after the Phillies finished 82-80.
Soto was also impressive in 2021 with a .313/.465/.534 slash line, adding 29 home runs as one of the best pure hitters in the game. The 23-year-old hit .348 with 18 home runs in the second half of the season.
Tatis finished in the top four of MVP voting for the second straight year after leading the NL with 42 home runs to go with his 25 stolen bases. He also expanded his versatility this season while playing at shortstop, right field and center field.
Harper still stood above the competition to take home his second-career MVP Award.
Phillies, Phanatic Creators Agree to Settlement; PHI Can Use Original Mascot Design
Nov 15, 2021
The Philadelphia Phillies' mascot, the Phillie Phanatic stands during an interleague baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The original Phillie Phanatic could make an appearance at Citizens Bank Park in the near future.
Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reported the Philadelphia Phillies and the co-creators of the original Phanatic design reached a settlement Monday that will allow the National League East team to use the initial mascot design.
Zolecki believes the original Phanatic will return for the Phillies after the ruling.
Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer noted co-creators Bonnie Erickson and Wayde Harrison sold the Phanatic's copyrights to the Phillies in 1984 for $250,000. However, federal copyright law permits renegotiation after 35 years.
Erickson and Harrison threatened to obtain an injunction against the Phillies' use of their creation. The team responded by suing them and revealing an altered version of the mascot that featured enough changes to differentiate it but not too many to make it unrecognizable for fans.
The creators called the new mascot offensive to "our intellectual property rights and Phillies fans everywhere."
The Phillies argued "without the Club's contributions, the Phanatic would not have been a character at all." They said Erickson and Harrison were seeking millions and even suggested they could sell the mascot's rights to a different team.
Philadelphia can use either version of the mascot as a result of the settlement, although it has to pay an undisclosed amount of money to Erickson and Harrison.
Perhaps the original mascot will return for the 2022 campaign when the Phillies look to bounce back after missing the playoffs in 2021 at 82-80.
Starling Marte Rumors: Phillies Eye A's Free Agent; 'Many' MLB Teams Interested in CF
Nov 13, 2021
Oakland Athletics' Starling Marte during a baseball game agains the the Houston Astros Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Starling Marte, arguably the best free-agent outfielder available, appears to have his choice of potential landing spots.
Per MLB Network's Jon Heyman, the Philadelphia Phillies are among the "many" teams interested in signing the two-time Gold Glove winner.
Heyman noted the Houston Astros, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Miami Marlins and more as suitors.
The top of the free-agent outfield class is very good. Mark Canha, Chris Taylor, Avisail Garcia, Nick Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber and Michael Conforto should attract a lot of attention.
The 33-year-old Marte, though, has the best combination of offensive and defensive ability. He's a .289/.346/.451 career hitter and had a career-high 132 OPS+ in 2021, per Baseball-Reference.
Per Baseball Savant, Marte is a quality defender in center field, having posted three outs above average and three runs prevented in 2021. He split his time between the Miami Marlins and Oakland Athletics last season.
The Phillies certainly make sense as a destination for Marte. They are trying to win now with Bryce Harper coming off an MVP-caliber season and having re-signed J.T. Realmuto last offseason.
Andrew McCutchen, who has primarily played left field for them over the past three seasons, is a free agent. Odubel Herrera, Philadelphia's primary center fielder, has hit just .253/.308/.409 since the start of 2018.
The National League East should be better next season. The Atlanta Braves will likely remain formidable in their World Series defense. The New York Mets, as long as their key players stay healthy, are better than their 77-85 record in 2021.
If the Phillies want to keep pace with those teams, making a big splash in free agency is the easiest way to do so.
Andrew McCutchen's $15M Contract Option for 2022 Season Declined by Phillies
Nov 3, 2021
Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) bats during a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Philadelphia Phillies declined their $15 million club option on outfielder Andrew McCutchen on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old originally signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Phillies before the 2019 season that gave them an option of bringing him back for $15 million in 2022 or paying a $3 million buyout.
The 2013 NL MVP missed 103 games in his first season in Philadelphia after suffering a torn ACL before two solid-but-unspectacular campaigns in 2020 and 2021. He hit .222/.334/.444 with 27 home runs and 80 runs batted in while making 144 appearances this past season.
While he's a long way away from his MVP heights, McCutchen is still a solid enough outfielder who will likely command interest from a number of teams on the open market.
The $15 million mark may be a little high at this juncture of his career, and the Phillies determined they weren't willing to pay that price at this time.
