Phillies Free Agent Considerations: Kyle Schwarber or Ranger Suarez?

After another early postseason exit for the Philadelphia Phillies, they have a few decisions regarding their roster look for next year and beyond. While the list of Phillies’ pending free agents has some notable names, two at the top of the priority list are DH Kyle Schwarber and pitcher Ranger Suarez.

In this game, Ranger sets a career high in strikeouts, while Schwarber blasts number 50.

In an ideal scenario, I’m sure Philadelphia would love nothing more than to keep both of these talents on the roster now and in the near future. However, considering the existing payroll with the contract projections of these two players, they may only be able to sign one or the other. As much as fans such as myself would hate to see either guy in a different uniform, I am going to make a case for each player, respectively, to be re-signed. We will start with the aforementioned Kyle Schwarber.

Phillies fans know this man quite well, and many wear his jersey in the seats of Citizens Bank Park, watching in person as he launches another Schwarbomb into the second deck. It is no secret that the key to unlocking the power in this lineup lies with Schwarber, as he had a monster 56 HR season in 2025, nearly breaking former Phillie Ryan Howard’s single-season HR franchise record of 58. In addition, Kyle was a catalyst of the 2022 team that made the World Series, hitting 6 HRs in that postseason alone to help the Phillies take the Astros 6 games before being defeated for the ultimate prize. He has proven himself to be durable, as he has played at least 150 games in each of his 4 seasons wearing the Phillies pinstripes, and his flexibility to occasionally play LF has helped shape lineup decisions in times of need. The man has shown himself to be not only a clubhouse leader but also a fan and community favorite, and the popular local chain Wawa even renamed its annual Hoagiefest sale “Schwarberfest” in tribute to Schwarber. However, with a projected contract draw in the neighborhood of 6 years/$150 million, the Phillies must decide if his power and chemistry with the team are worth taking the financial leap of signing him to that kind of deal at 32 years of age. If they cannot agree with him, they may have to watch their beloved slugger leave for a team like the Mets or the Tigers, two teams that have shown strong interest in possibly signing him.

On the other hand, there is the presence of pitcher Ranger Suarez. Affectionately known as “Ranger Danger” by fans, this man has had quite the career toeing the rubber for the Phils. He had a robust year in 2025, striking out 151 batters and posting a season ERA under 4. He always seems to have a calm and collected demeanor on the mound, and when his breaking ball is working effectively, good luck to any hitter trying to make contact with a ball coming out of his hand. He has been a workhorse for Philadelphia, making 20+ starts in each of his last 4 seasons, and he has also shown the ability to work well out of the bullpen in certain instances. Many fans will remember his incredible bullpen run in 2022, where he got the last out to send the Phillies to the Fall Classic. He seems to really turn it on in the postseason, whether it is starting or in relief, and it has shown with the way that he has only picked up one loss in 11 total career postseason appearances in the Phillies organization. Ranger has been a part of this team for a long time, as he worked in the farm system for a while, even before making his MLB debut in 2018. However, with his contract expiring and a projected re-sign value in the neighborhood of 6 years/$160 million, the Philadelphia brass will have to weigh their options and determine whether or not they can offer him such a deal, especially with the other pending free agents that fill positions that may hold an uncertain future.

In conclusion, I don’t think I am wrong to say that the members of the Phillies fanbase would be overjoyed with keeping either or both of these players on the roster as the team attempts to take another run for glory in 2026 and beyond. Kyle Schwarber has been a leader in the lineup with his bat and character, and has become beloved by Phillies fans everywhere. Ranger Suarez is a solid rotational pitcher who has shown versatility and reliability to go out there in every appearance and give it all he has to put this team in a position to win. Both have the heart and soul of Philadelphia; there is no doubt about that. However, there is a very real possibility that the ownership of this team will have to make some tough decisions in the near future, particularly when it comes to one or both of these athletes.

Edited and Formatted by David M. Hink