Kyle Schwarber Gets Emotional While Speaking on Upcoming Free Agency Following 2025 NLDS Exit Against Dodgers

Kyle Schwarber was in the final year of his 4-year $79 million deal and will enter free agency during the upcoming offseason.

Kyle Schwarber Gets Emotional While Speaking on Upcoming Free Agency Following 2025 NLDS Exit Against Dodgers

Kyle Schwarber (Image via MLB)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Kyle Schwarber was left emotional on Thursday after the Philadelphia Phillies lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series (NLDS). He would comment on his upcoming free agency following the NLDS exit.

Schwarber, the designated hitter (DH), signed a 4-year $79 million contract with the Phillies in March 2022. This year was the final year of his deal, making him a free agent upon the end of the season.

He was the Phillies’ star man this season. Whenever the team needed an offensive boost, Schwarber would come up clutch and deliver for his team. This year was the first time he crossed the 50-home run mark in his career. Schwarber ended the 2025 regular season with 56 home runs and 132 RBIs (the most in his career).

He was also the offensive hero for his team in Game 3 of the NLDS. With his team being 2-0 down after losing Games 1 and 2, he clubbed 2 home runs and led them to an 8-2 win to enforce Game 4.

A tight game on Thursday went into extra innings. In an unfortunate ending, pitcher Orion Kerkering ended up making a throwing error with the bases loaded and two outs in the 11th inning. This error cost them the game and saw the Dodgers move on to the National League Championship Series (NLCS).

Thursday’s game could turn out to be his last game for the Phillies if he does not end up re-signing with them in the offseason. While speaking with Jason Dumas of ABC 6, the 32-year-old was left a bit emotional.

It doesn’t feel good. You just make a lot of different relationships in the clubhouse, and you never know how it’s gonna work out, right? You make so many personal relationships… they become family, and yeah, you just never know how it’s gonna go, but these guys all know how I feel about them.

Kyle Schwarber said

The Phillies can extend a qualifying offer to him. However, it is highly likely that he will turn down that offer and test free agency.

Kyle Schwarber and other Phillies star struggled in NLDS against the Dodgers

The Philadelphia Phillies have suffered another postseason heartbreak. After losing in the World Series in 2022, the team has not made it to the Fall Classic again. While Kyle Schwarber had a fantastic regular season, he and his teammates struggled in the NLDS against the Dodgers.

Kyle Schwarber
Kyle Schwarber (Image via NBC Sports)

Schwarber, alongside Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, was ineffective for most of the series. In their Game 3 win, the trio combined to go 7-for-13. In the other 3 games, they combined to manage just 3 hits.

They went for 1-for-11 with Harper being the one to get the hit. Schwarber, who is locked into the NL MVP race alongside Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, struck out 3 times in Game 1.

In Game 2, the trio went 1-for-10, with Turner being the one getting the hit. They combined to strikeout 5 times in their 4-3 loss.

With Schwarber being the hero in Game 3, their bats cooled down again in Game 4. They went 1-for-14 in the do-or-die game for the team and had no answers to the Dodgers’ pitchers. They went 3-for-35 in the three losses.

This loss was the Phillies’ 2nd straight NLDS elimination. Last year, the New York Mets knocked them out after losing the division title to them. The NL East champions have dropped 10 of their previous 13 postseason games now.

There is a massive dark cloud revolving around the future of the team. Apart from Kyle Schwarber, stars like J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suarez are also heading towards free agency. This, along with Harper being 33, has some fans wondering whether this is the end of an era for the current core of the Phillies.

Only time will tell what is in store for the Phillies in 2026. For now, the attention in MLB will turn towards the final game of the division series as the Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays wait to see who they will face in their respective League Championship Series.

Also Read: