The Mets are interested in free agent slugger Kyle Schwarber, reports Mike Puma of The New York Post. Schwarber rejected a qualifying offer from the Phillies, so any other club would face the associated penalties for signing him.
Schwarber has been one of the most popular free agents this winter, which isn’t surprising. The Phillies would love to have him back and he has also been connected to the Pirates, Reds, Red Sox, Orioles and Giants. Pittsburgh has reportedly made a four-year offer to Schwarber.
The interest stems from Schwarber being one of the best bats in the league. He strikes out a lot but also draws lots of walks and hits home runs. He has seven seasons with at least 30 long balls. He’s gotten to 38 in each of the past four campaigns and hit at least 46 in three of those four. 2025 was a personal best, as he was able to launch 56 homers. His 28.4% strikeout rate in his career is quite high but he has drawn walks at a 14.2% clip.
Schwarber is a lefty and has been hamstrung by southpaws at times in his career, but he seems to have put that all behind him more recently. His production against lefties has improved over the years, so much so that he was actually better without the platoon advantage in the two most recent campaigns. In 2024, he slashed .300/.407/.490 for a 152 wRC+ against lefties, compared to a .218/.342/.482 line and 124 wRC+ otherwise. In 2025, those lines were .252/.366/.598 and .232/.364/.541 for respective wRC+ numbers of 162 and 146.
There are downsides with Schwarber. He is essentially only a designated hitter at this point in his career. He has just 13 outfield appearances over the past two years combined. He could perhaps end up at first base but doesn’t have a track record of success there. His age is also a factor, as he’ll turn 33 in March.
It seems teams are willing to overlook those concerns in order to take a chance on adding an elite bat. MLBTR predicted Schwarber could secure a five-year, $135MM deal this offseason. As mentioned, the Pirates have already put a four-year offer out there. Given how many teams are at the table, perhaps he will get that fifth year.
For the Mets, they have a fairly open DH spot. Starling Marte took most of the plate appearances in that slot in 2025 and he is now a free agent. Longtime first baseman Pete Alonso is also on the open market. The Mets subtracted a lefty bat from the lineup when they dealt left fielder Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien.
Alonso could still be re-signed but having both him and Schwarber is probably not in the cards. The Mets are hoping to improve their run prevention next year, which prompted them to add a solid defender like Semien. It has been reported that the Mets don’t love Alonso as a defender and would like him to spend more time as a DH going forward, if they reunite. Signing both Alonso and Schwarber would mean putting Alonso back out there as a regular first baseman, which doesn’t align with that run prevention plan.
Financially, the Mets could theoretically do a lot. They have been big spenders since Steve Cohen became owner of the team. RosterResource currently pegs their 2026 payroll at $279MM, about $60MM below where they finished in 2025. They could make even more payroll space if they trade Jeff McNeil and/or Kodai Senga, who have both been in plenty of rumors this offseason.
The Mets have some needs on the pitching staff but are reportedly hoping to avoid the top free agent starters. Perhaps they plan to dedicate more resources to the lineup. They likely need to make another move to replace Nimmo in the outfield, maybe two moves when considering their center field situation. They could go after Schwarber but they could also try to bring back Alonso and/or Edwin Díaz. Alonso is reportedly meeting with the Red Sox and Orioles at the Winter Meetings, but he could also make time for other clubs as well.
Photo courtesy of Bill Streicher, Imagn Images
Stay shorter term. 4?
I assume someone is gonna offer him 5 years and then Philly will cave and give him the 5th year and he will return there.
Yeah, seems most likely.
This is why I think the comments that Pirates leaked their offer as PR is backwards. Leaking that information basically only benefits Schwarber’s agent. He can go to the Phillies (or other large market team) and say look at what a small market team like the Pirates think Schwarber is worth. You need to do a lot better than them.
Think they can beat the Pirate’s offer?
Waiting for Stearns to say he only wants him on a 1 or 2 year deal because he’s a joke of a GM
Sorry guys gonna have to outspend Bob Nutting.
Surprised no one ever tried him at first base. Just a handful of games in Boston.
Yeah I find it odd no one else really has. At least try in Spring Training.
Scott, Its not that hard. Tell him Wash……….
It’s extremely hard!
haha. love it!
Scott: What about the fans?
Wash: Yeah, maybe I can teach one of them.
He really can’t field a ground ball, which you kinda have to do at 1B. He was once a catcher, believe it or not, but an awful one and his hands leave a lot to be desired (ironic because his hitting style is based on having exceptional hands).
This I can believe and if they make him an offer it won’t be a ridiculously low one like Nutting was rumored to have made.
Who plays 1B for the Mets in 2026 if they sign Schwarber? Can’t imagine they sign both him and Alonso.
imho, trade for Yandy Diaz.
I’d be happy with that as a fan, can’t imagine it’d cost too much with him being 34.
Pick someone up. Goldschmidt or O’Hearn or someone.
The could roll with Vientos at first.
Mets may not want to do long term deals with pitchers but they don’t seem to have a problem doing it for hitters.
It would still feel like they would need a right handed bat. If they sign him they still would need a LF, CF, 1b (maybe 3b), starters and relievers. Unless they are gonna roll out some of their young guys in those spots.
Good move by the Mets. You either sign him ore drive up the price.
Whoever gives him that fifth year, wins the Kyle Schwarber sweepstakes. My money is still on the Phillies.
I think Reds will land him.
I don’t think they’re even in it anymore. Way too rich for their blood. Unlike the Pirates the Reds already have some salaries they’re paying and are fairly close to their budget. I’d suggest more likely they split that $30m into two or three decent professional hitters on short term deals, and would probably be wise to do so.
I still hope he signs with the Pirates. Highly unlikely but that would be awesome
Lindor-Soto-Schwarber does look nice.
“His production against lefties has improved over the years, so much so that he was actually better without the platoon advantage in the two most recent campaigns.”
BB% and K%
24/25
Vs L 13.7, 27.5
Vs R 15.9, 28.0
21/23
Vs L 14.6, 31.7
Vs R 15.0, 27.8
Schwarber has improved his plate discipline numbers vs lefties the last two years. Important to note, though, it’s only 500 PA we are talking about. As such, the “reverse splits” as they basically always are, are most likely small sample size randomness.
Schwarber might have smaller splits vs lefties than normal. He probably does not actually have a reverse split.