Dave Dombrowski has finally made his first big splash in free agency. Moments ago, it was reported that the Phillies have reached a 4-year agreement with free-agent outfielder Kyle Schwarber.

Kyle Schwarber has been thought to be the team’s #1 outfield target for months. The Phillies were rumored by many insiders to land Schwarber before the lockout and with the team’s need for a left fielder and left-handed bat, Schwarber always made the most sense.

Schwarber is a career .237 hitter in over 2,000 major league at-bats. His 2021 season started with the Washington Nationals, where he hit 25 HRs and 53 RBIs in 72 games. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox midway through the year, crushing 7 HRs and a .957 OPS in 41 games. 

The 29-year-old’s career started off in Chicago, where he hit over 120 HRs and 350 RBIs with the Cubs in six years. Schwarber is a 1x All-Star, with a World Series ring as well. 

Schwarber’s deal with the Phillies will be a 4-year deal, with an AAV just under $20 million per year. With the current structure of the Phillies, the team will have options with Schwarber. He will be able to fill your gap in left-field and will be a great option at the DH position as well. Schwarber could also be a guy that fills the leadoff role, with the 1-spot undecided in this lineup.

Dave Dombrowski got his guy. The Phillies have officially landed another dominant-hitting corner outfielder to pair with Bryce Harper. Plenty more to come on the contract details. The Phillies still have work to do before Opening Day on April 7th, but let’s just take a second and think about Realmuto, Harper, Schwarber, and Hoskins on the lineup card. Looking pretty, pretty, good.

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