After he spent the second half of 2021 helping propel the underdog Boston Red Sox to the American League Championship Series, blasting seven home runs in just 41 games plus another three in the postseason, Kyle Schwarber signed a four-year, $79 million free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

In his three years in Philadelphia, Schwarber has continued to be one of MLB’s most dangerous deep threats, with 131 homers, including a league-leading 46 in 2022. He also has a talent for getting on base, leading the National League in walks with 106 in 2024. He drew 126 free passes the previous season.

The Phillies have qualified for the playoffs in all three years Schwarber has been there, and he has played a valuable role in all three playoff runs – including the team’s 2022 trip to the World Series, where they ultimately lost to the Houston Astros. Schwarber hit three home runs in that six-game series and slugged a total of 11 in 34 postseason Phillies games since joining the team.

Now, according to a report by The Athletic, the Phillies would like more of what they’ve seen so far from Schwarber.

“The Phillies and Schwarber’s camp have engaged in broad contract extension talks this spring, according to major-league sources, but nothing is perceived as imminent,” Matt Gelb of The Athletic reported on Friday.

Schwarber often serves as the Phillies’ leadoff hitter due to his propensity to get on base, but as Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors wrote, Schwarber has “an unconventional profile for a leadoff hitter.”

“The two-time All-Star has one of the sport’s most extreme offensive approaches,” Franco wrote. “He draws tons of walks with huge power while striking out in almost 30 percent of his trips to the plate.”

Indeed, Schwarber led the NL is strikeouts in both 2022 and 2023, with 200 and 215, respectively. Last year, Schwarber managed to come in under the 200 mark, going down by way of the K 197 times. That was a strikeout percentage of 28.5 after fanning in 29.9 percent of his plate appearances in both 2022 and 2023.

What would a Schwarber extension look like? According to Franco, a second four-year deal seems unlikely given the lefty-swinging slugger’s age (31). Even on a three-year deal, however, Schwarber will not be sold short. Franco speculates that the former Chicago Cubs first-round draft pick – fourth overall in 2014 – should see the average annual value of his new deal rise well above the $19.75 million on his current contract.