Jon Heyman Predicts Phillies Land 1 Specific Big Bat in Free Agency This Off-season

With the 2021 MLB season soon to come to an end, the Phillies will be shifting their focus to free agency, looking to bolster their lineup and add key parts to make this team a playoff contender. Dave Dombrowski is set to take on his first full off-season with the Phillies and has a ton of work to do. Just a few days ago, MLB Insider Jon Heyman predicted the Phillies landing a big bat this offseason.

In their most recent podcast above, Jon Heyman and Cody Decker go through a few big-time free agents this offseason, and where each player could potentially land. Heyman predicted big bat Kyle Schwarber to land with the Phillies, specically due to Kevin Long becoming the new hitting coach of the Phillies, who worked with Schwarber in the Nationals organization.

“I’m gonna concentrate on the fact that he was with the Nats more than the Cubs, and say that Kevin Long helped him improve his swing and he really took off as a member of the Nats, and he continued that as a member of the Red Sox. Now that Kevin Long is the hitting coach of the Phillies….that Schwarber winds up with the Phillies. And again, we’re looking at the possibility of the universal DH, so there could be room for Hoskins and Schwarber in Philly.” Heyman on Big Time Baseball.

Schwarber would be a very big signing for the Phillies, bringing a big bat to hit potentially between Hoskins and JT, or anywhere he is needed in the lineup. Schwarber started off his season with the Nationals but was dealt at the trade deadline to the Boston Red Sox. In 41 games with the Red Sox, Schwarber slashed a line of .291/.435/.522, good for an OPS of .957. Schwarber also contributed 39 hits, 7 HRs, and 18 RBIs, giving him a total of 32 HRs and 71 RBIs throughout the season.

The NL, at this point in time, has no DH. There have been rumors about it coming into the national league in the upcoming seasons, even potentially this upcoming season. Kyle Schwarber would be a fantastic option for the DH position if the NL went that way, and the Phillies should jump all over that deal. Even if the DH doesn’t happen in the 2022 season, the Phils could still potentially look at Schwarber with Andrew McCutchen set to hit free agency.

Read more: The 9 Phillies that are arbitration eligible >>

Obviously, this was just a prediction. After a big season that Schwarber had, hitting over 30+ homeruns, he is set to make a good chunk of money in this upcoming offseason. The Phillies will have a fair share of money to work with if they play their re-signings right, and if they are truly all in, they should be eying up Kyle Schwarber and doing whatever they can to get him into a Phillies uniform.

Ring it. 110 days til pitchers and catchers. And remember, we’re rooting for nobody in the World Series.

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