All eyes on Kyle Schwarber for Cincinnati Reds as winter meetings open

Key Highlights

• But the typically big-spending Phillies seem to be approaching this winter less aggressively than recent offseasons.
• And more recent reports suggest the Phillies are more focused on the two hitters.“It’s a process,” Dombrowski said. Schwarber, 32, is expected to command a four- or five-year contract worth $25 million to $30 million per year. Asked by The Enquirer a few weeks ago about the possibility of pursuing Schwarber effectively enough to land him, Reds president Nick Krall said:AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I’m not going to speculate on any free agent in general.
• But, look, he’s a really good player who obviously had a really good year, and … who knows?”Since then, the team has continued a pursuit that in recent days still had team officials believing they remain in the running – however a long shot the industry considers them. Nobody disputes how ideal a fit Schwarber is for the Reds on multiple levels, from his difference-making power for the lineup to his well-known impact as a teammate and the marketing potential as a popular and charismatic hometown player. That last part might be as big a key to the Reds’ realistic ability to afford the sticker price if ownership chooses to loosen the purse strings enough to take advantage of what could be a uniquely shrewd investment for Cincinnati. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKrall said at the outset of the offseason that he was dealing with a payroll budget essentially frozen at or near the 2025 level, which might mean $10 million to $15 million in flexibility after Pagán’s new $10-million-a-year deal – before considering possible trades that might free up more flexibility. The other way to look at the math is the additional money the Reds might make by signing Schwarber compared to any other potential addition. The club is firmly in a competitive window, coming off a playoff season, with attendance having gone up 7.3% in 2026. That number should only go up with another competitive season, especially if the team gets off to a stronger start than last year. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut it’s not hard to imagine an even bigger spike with a marquee star with local roots providing the competitive difference as an additional drawing card. The last time the Reds made a move like that was 25 years ago when.