Reality check: Schwarber's gone

With the season likely to end within the next few days, the most interesting thing to follow involving the club is the free-agent market, specifically in one Kyle Schwarber. Word to the wise, and those who can stomach it: He's gone. His days with the Phillies are over after this series with the Dodgers ends -- unless, of course, the Phillies turn the tables, rally, and ultimately reach the World Series (if they beat the Dodgers, but don't make the WS, he's still gone).

To me, there are four legit suitors for the guy, clubs who will be willing to pay the guy what the Phillies will not -- the Red Sox, Mets, Cubs and Reds, in that order. Money won't be an obstacle for any of the first three, and Cincy is essentially Schwarber's hometown.

A scenario, I think, that would be a win-win for both teams would be the Phillies and Mets essentially swapping one big-ticket free agent for another, with the Mets getting Schwarber and the Phillies getting Pete Alonso, who opted out of his deal in New York the moment his season ended.

Alonso would provide remarkably comparable offensive production to Schwarber AND solid glove at 1B (knocks on him there are silly), allowing Bryce Harper to move back to RF (bye-bye, Nick Castellanos) or go full-time DH or alternate 1B and DH with Alonso. Bonus: He's two years younger than Schwarber.