Phillies

Pete Alonso for 7 Years Sounds Like a Better Move Than Kyle Schwarber for 5 Years

By Kyle Pagan

Published: Oct 15th, 2025 · 11:33 AM EDT

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I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but at this point I’d rather the Phillies sign Pete Alonso for seven years than Kyle Schwarber for five. I’ve got a lot of Pete Alonso tweets that need some deleting if that’s the case.

Here’s what Scott Lauber from the Inky said on the Schwarber front Tuesday:

The expectation within the sport is Schwarber will seek five years, unprecedented for a DH who will be 33 next season. Maybe he’ll settle for four. Regardless, his annual salary will climb toward $30 million. Rival team officials are guessing that Middleton will match or beat Schwarber’s best offer, as he did previously for Realmuto and Nola.

Hold your horses there, Dave! No need to negotiate against yourself. Flip your cards back over and lets play some poker.

I love Schwarber as much as the next guy. Not just what he does on the field, but what he does off of it. He’s aces. Great locker room guy. Hell, he had tears in his eyes talking about Philadelphia and how much he loved these guys after they lost to the Dodgers. He’s built for this city. I just don’t know how long he’s got 50+ home runs left in him. How long can he play 162 games a year while producing? What if his body starts to break down early into the deal? Sure, he’s a clubhouse presence that’ll be tough to replace, but what does a clubhouse presence matter when you have back-to-back first round exits in the NLDS, with home-field advantage?

Alonso turns 31 and the reports are that he wants seven years. He just had a career high in batting average and his playoff slash-line is very good (.278/.429/.574). Alonso finished with more hits than Schwarbs and six fewer RBIs despite having 18 fewer home runs. He also plays first base, not at a Gold Glove caliber, but also not like Rhys Hoskins. He consistently produces and from everything I’ve seen he’s a solid teammate. His biggest character issue is that he’s an uber dork, but I can pretend I do not see it:

This move would allow the Phillies to get creative with the DH spot. Topper’s lineups have been limited with Schwarbs being a full-time DH, but when you mash 56 home runs no one is complaining. Maybe Bryce Harper becomes your full-time DH and plays the outfield when JT Realmuto (presuming they sign him) needs a break from behind the dish. Maybe they let Aidan Miller get his feet wet next year and let Alec Bohm DH some for the opportunity to shop him down the line. Though with the way Phillies management treats prospect timelines I wouldn’t hold my breath they’re going to even call Miller up before he’s 28. Remember how it was almost a guarantee we would see Andrew Painter this season? That got swept under the rug, huh?

In Phillies La La Land my ideal free agency scenario is to sign Alonso and Kyle Tucker to shore up the right side of the diamond and the top of the lineup. Do I think it’s going to happen? We’ll find out how much John Middleton really wants his fucking trophy back.

Obligatory 2026 Phillies starting lineup:

• SS Trea Turner
• RF Kyle Tucker
• DH Bryce Harper
• 1B Pete Alonso
• C JT Realmuto
• 2B Bryson Stott
• 3B Aidan Miller
• LF Dave Dombrowski’s Magical Chin Dimple Free Agent
• CF Dave Dombrowski’s Magical Chin Dimple Free Agent/Justin Crawford