Another Colorado Rockies target could be off the board when the lockout is over

During the lockout, the Colorado Rockies will probably be doing their due diligence during the lockout by checking out some of the players on the free agent market or looking at other teams and their rosters to look at possible trades for when the lockout ends. But when the lockout ends, one of their targets could be off the board very quickly. Our friend and colleague, Robert Murray of FanSided and Redbird Rants, is reporting that Kyle Schwarber was close to signing with the Philadelphia Phillies.

However, they could not get a deal done before the lockout was in place. They were, seemingly, close to the finish line of a deal but they came up short, likely due to financials. But the two teams could easily come to a deal shortly after the lockout ends.

The Colorado Rockies would be losing out on Kyle Schwarber’s big bat to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Colorado Rockies could really use a bat like Kyle Schwarber’s in their lineup but they could lose out on him the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies, as Murray said on “The Baseball Insiders” podcast with he and Mark Carman that he believes that Schwarber and the Phillies are a perfect fit.

The Phillies need a leadoff hitter. Schwarber has been a leadoff hitter for the Chicago Cubs and, on occasion in 2021, he did the same for the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox.

The Phillies need an outfielder as their current outfield is (from left to right) Adam Haseley, Mickey Moniak, and Bryce Harper. Schwarber would easily be their left fielder.

The Phillies need a player that could be a DH for them if it comes to the NL. Schwarber could easily do that.

The Phillies also have a new hitting coach: Kevin Long. Last season, Long was the hitting coach for … the Washington Nationals. As Murray noted in the podcast, Long and Schwarber have a very good relationship and he helped Schwarber turn his career around last season.

For the Rockies to get Schwarber, they would likely have to offer a four- to five-year deal in the range of $17-$20 million per year. The Rockies could decide that is too much and decide to pivot to another player.