The Philadelphia Phillies had one mission this winter: ensure Kyle Schwarber stayed in their lineup. Schwarber, hailing from Middleton, Ohio, has been a cornerstone for the Phillies over the past four seasons. His fit with the team was so perfect that another free agent, Pete Alonso, knew he wasn't in the Phillies' plans because they were all-in on Schwarber.
Alonso, who eventually signed with the Baltimore Orioles, could have been a great addition to Philadelphia if Schwarber hadn’t re-signed. But Alonso, a Tampa native, was aware long before the fans that Schwarber was set to ink a new deal with the Phillies.
How Pete Alonso knew the Phillies were committed to Kyle Schwarber
According to Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Alonso realized early on that the Phillies were focused on retaining Schwarber.
"There was a little bit of dialogue, very, very early, more of a ‘Hey, how you doing?’ type of thing," Alonso shared with Salisbury. "But they were like, ‘All our eggs are with Schwarbs.’"
Schwarber delivered a career-best performance in 2025, smashing 56 home runs and driving in 132 runs, both personal highs over 162 games. His .928 OPS tied his previous career peak from 2021. The Phillies made it clear that keeping him was their top priority.
Alonso, known for his durability with the New York Mets, missed just 20 games from 2021-25 and played all 162 games in the last two seasons. In 2025, he hit 38 home runs, drove in 126 runs, and notched a career-high 41 doubles. His .871 OPS was the second-best of his career, behind his .941 OPS as a rookie in 2019.
Had Schwarber not re-signed, Alonso would have been the Phillies' top alternative. Known for his power, Alonso could have filled the void, although it might have caused a logjam at first base with Bryce Harper. Despite rumors, it was evident Schwarber wasn’t leaving Philadelphia.
Alonso also appreciated playing at Citizens Bank Park during his time with New York.
“I love playing in Philly. The Bank is a fun place to hit.
The ball flies," Alonso remarked. "The fans are rowdy.
They bring a lot of energy. And the Phillies always have a great team.
They’re super talented. You’ve got to bring it when you play them.”
While Alonso is a tremendous talent and could have fit well with the Phillies, he understood that Schwarber was always the priority. The Phillies quickly matched the Orioles' offer to retain Schwarber, who was equally eager to stay in Philadelphia.