Word of the Pirates interest in Kyle Schwarber was taken seriously by no one. It’s the type of move that the team just doesn’t make and represents more money than they give out to players, even players who have come through their system. If Schwarber was the contestant on Deal or No Deal and the Pirates were the banker, this is the point where Schwarber would slam down the Plexiglas lid that covers the oversized big red button and say ‘no deal.’ Only he wouldn’t even have to look over at his family and friends to know what to do because there are multiples of millions on the board and the banker is coming up small with his offer.

THE READ-IN: Schwarber Wants to Sign Early

Ken Rosenthal broke the news of Pittsburgh’s offer and wrote in The Athletic: “The offer almost certainly is for more than $100 million.” First, the years are too few. Schwarber will be 33 at the start of the 2026 season and he is looking for that big, final payday. He would be 37 at the end of this deal and he is looking for a minimum of five years and would love to get an offer for a sixth or even seventh season. As for the dollars, the money would have to be much more than $100-million. It figures that Schwarbs will pull in something along the lines of $30-million per season on an average annual value (AAV) basis.

Rosenthal points out that Pittsburgh has only given out one deal over $100-million and that was an extension to Bryan Reynolds. They have never given – and probably have never offered – a free agent an amount over the $100-million mark. The Reds and Phillies are thought to be the two main players for Schwarber with Boston, the New York Mets, and Baltimore also lurking around.

A team like the Pirates or Reds throwing what they consider big money at Schwarber makes some sense. Unless the MLB Player’s Association (MLBPA) folds horribly, there is going to be a salary floor – a minimum team payroll for players – that will go into affect in the next CBA. On the swing side of that, a salary cap is also a good bet. Pittsburgh would be able to get ahead of that with an offer to Schwarber. It also makes sense that the Pirates would look to make a big signing in an effort to put a better team around Paul Skenes who is already mentioning an interest to get out of town via a trade. For the Pirates to hope to keep the Cy Young winner, they not only will need to bank up an armored truck to his garage, but give him a better team surrounding him to make sticking with the team worthwhile.

THE READ-IN: A Preview of MLB’s Winter Meetings

In a perfect world, the type of money that Pittsburgh is putting out there would be enough to get a top free agent. It would make for better parity in a world where salaries are out of hand. That’s an issue for another day though.

The Winter Meetings get out of the starting blocks today and a Schwarber signing in the next few days in clearly in the realm of possibility, just not one with Pittsburgh.

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