Phillies sign Schwarber

*Photo from NBC Sports*

   One thing the Philadelphia Phillies definitely have is a terrifyingly good lineup, one that just got better. The Phillies and OF/DH Kyle Schwarber have agreed to a 4 year, $79 million contract, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman. The Phillies have confirmed the deal.

   The Phillies had a need in the outfield with Andrew McCutchen departing in free agency, and, while Schwarber doesn't possess the best defensive ability, he's able to plug that hole in the outfield, while also potentially serving as DH. He also played first base down the stretch with the Boston Red Sox in 2021, so he's able to fill in there as well.

   Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper said of getting Schwarber that "He's a proven winner. Everywhere he’s gone, he’s done a really good job. It just gives us a huge opportunity to fill that void in left field, and it gives us a huge opportunity to get that much better."

   Last season, split between the Red Sox and Washington Nationals, Schwarber had a .266 batting average and .928 OPS, mashing 32 home runs and driving in 71, playing in 113 games, being selected to the all star game, but didn't play due to injury. In the playoffs, Schwarber hit 3 home runs and drove in 6, across 11 games.

   In Schwarber's 7 seasons in the majors, split between 3 different teams, he has a .237 batting average and .836 OPS, hitting 153 home runs to go with 350 RBI's, winning a world series in 2016 and playing 664 regular season games. He has a .255 batting average with 9 home runs and 17 RBI's in 35 career playoff games.

   Before getting injured in July, Schwarber was on a historic tear, tying a record with 5 home runs in the span of two games, the span of 10 games with 12, and the span of 18 games with 16. The only players that matched the number of home runs Schwarber hit between June 12 and June 29 were Barry Bonds in 2001 and Sammy Sosa in 1998.

   Schwarber is the first notable position player addition for the Phillies, joining Jeurys Familia, Odubel Herrera, Corey Knebel, and Johan Camargo as new additions.