Kyle Schwarber is officially off the board, signing a five-year, $150 million deal to return to the Philadelphia Phillies. But the real story isn’t just that the Reds missed out — it’s why they missed out.Jeff Passan reported that Cincinnati simply did not meet the financial demands needed to stay in the race, despite Schwarber growing up just 30 minutes from the city and having real interest in joining the Reds. Charlie Goldsmith added that the Reds were out of the negotiations early, even though they made an initial offer.Then came Nick Krall’s comments about ownership trying to “break even every year”… and that’s where the frustration really begins. In today’s video, we break down why that explanation makes no sense in 2025, why it continues to hold the franchise back, and what missing out on Schwarber means for the rest of the offseason.Can the Reds find legitimate offense elsewhere? Will they turn to the trade market? Or is this another winter of bargain hunting?Let’s talk about what really happened — and what comes next for Cincinnati.If you enjoy Reds coverage all offseason, make sure to like, subscribe, and drop your thoughts in the comments!
