Phillies optimistic about re-signing Schwarber, Realmuto

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Everybody’s still waiting on Kyle Schwarber.

A reunion between the Phillies and Schwarber sounds increasingly likely. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Monday afternoon at the Winter Meetings that there is “optimism” regarding their chances to re-sign both Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto.

Others shared that sentiment. One source with knowledge of Schwarber’s thinking said he believes the two parties will ultimately reach an agreement. Another source expects the Phillies will outbid all interested parties, including the Red Sox, Mets, Reds and Pirates.

Some of those teams feel the same, indicating it will be an upset if Schwarber chooses them.

Of course, Schwarber hasn’t chosen anybody yet, and until he does, anything is possible.

“I’m just not sure what’s going to happen,” Dombrowski said.

But Dombrowski said the Phillies need clarity on Schwarber and Realmuto soon, so alternatives to replace them don’t fall off the board.

“I think that we properly expressed that,” Dombrowski said. “I want those guys to know how much we respect them, how much we would like to have them back. All that. But there’s a timeframe, too. It doesn’t mean you have to do something else, but at some point you need to move some things forward. So I think that’s been properly communicated.

“I’m not saying we’re sprinting forward with a lot of different things, but that’s been properly communicated. And I think that we’re prepared to shift if we need to.”

If Schwarber and Realmuto both re-sign with the Phillies, many will frame the Phillies’ offseason as simply “running it back” on a team that fell short in each of the previous four postseasons.

“We’re not running our club back,” Dombrowski said. “We’re talking about [prospect Justin] Crawford coming in, playing with [Otto] Kemp at this point. Max [Kepler] isn’t going to be back with us. So we’re in a position where there’s already some changes. [Prospect Aidan] Miller’s getting close to playing.

“I’m not so sure that when you win 96 games that you should really look to have to do a lot of things differently. But you’re always looking to get better. It’s very dependent upon, if you sign guys, how much money you spend, who else is available. If somebody is better than what you have, then by all means we’re open minded to it.”

Is anybody better for the Phillies than Schwarber?

Is there a catcher on the market better than Realmuto?

Right now, the Phillies’ answers to those questions are no.

Dombrowski said the Phillies continue to look for a “change of scenery” for Nick Castellanos, who is entering the final year of a five-year, $100 million contract. Several teams could use a right-handed-hitting corner outfielder like Castellanos. But teams haven’t expressed much interest in him. Some aren’t interested at all, even if the Phillies eat most or all of his salary.

Maybe that changes as a scarce number of right-handed bats fall off the board and Spring Training approaches.

If not, Castellanos could be released.

The possibility remains that the Phillies trade from the 26-man roster to reshape the team. Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh and Matt Strahm would have value to other teams, although Dombrowski said he expects Bohm to have a better 2026 because of better health.

Dombrowski said there are no plans to ask first baseman Bryce Harper to return to the outfield, or for Trea Turner to move to center field if they had an opportunity to reshape the infield.