Will Kyle Schwarber or Kyle Tucker Sign FA Contract First? MLB Insider Weighs In

Don't be surprised if star designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is off the market before outfielder Kyle Tucker.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network believes Schwarber will be the first to sign a deal in free agency, though he doesn't believe either player will be signed this week:

The 28-year-old Tucker is widely considered the top position player on the market this winter, given his position (right field) and pedigree (four-time All-Star, one-time champion).

But that could also mean a wider overall market and larger bidding war.

There likely will be less teams in the market for a top-end designated hitter like Schwarber, somewhat narrowing the bidders for the 32-year-old. A return to the Philadelphia Phillies has long been considered the most likely outcome, as Philly would be hard-pressed to replace his 56 homers and 132 RBI from the 2025 season.

Expecting him to replicate that level of production would probably be folly, though in Schwarber's four seasons in Philadelphia, he's hit 40 or more homers three times and 100 or more RBI three times. His best seasons have been at Citizens Bank Park, where he's beloved, and a reunion makes sense.

But the usual suspects will likely be in the running for Tucker, and the sport has seen its top free agents go unsigned well into the offseason in recent years. It wouldn't be a shock if Tucker's free agency played out similarly.