Blue Jays interested in Phillies slugger as perfect complement to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Blue Jays are one of the teams that MLB insiders expect to be very active this offseason. Whether it’s adding free agent talent, making trades, or re-signing their own, the Blue Jays are set to be active this winter.
One of the priorities for the Blue Jays this offseason will be to find a perfect complement to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the lineup. That “perfect complement” likely comes in the form of a left-handed slugger.
According to ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Blue Jays have two sluggers in mind, and while Kyle Tucker is a player often linked to Toronto, a different Kyle from the Philadelphia Phillies is a fascinating option.
Blue Jays linked to Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber
“The Toronto Blue Jays want a left-handed complement to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.,” Passan writes. “The contract offers are likely to bump Schwarber’s average annual value to more than $30 million a year…”
Toronto being linked to Kyle Schwarber makes a ton of sense. They need another slugger to the lineup, and if Bo Bichette departs in free agency, offense will be an even bigger priority to add this winter.
Schwarber, who is coming off a career year with the Phillies, would be an incredible pickup and complementary option in the lineup to Guerrero.
The 32-year-old designated hitter had 56 home runs and 132 RBIs in 2025, both career highs, and both led at least the National League, with his RBI total leading all of MLB.
It won’t come cheap, as Schwarber’s deal is likely to land around the $30 million per year range, and potentially upwards of five years.
But landing a slugger who’s capable of leading the Major Leagues in home runs is something that doesn’t come around often. After failed pursuits of big-name free agents in years past, the Blue Jays could swipe Schwarber from the Phillies this winter.
