Ex-Phillies GM floats surprising NL Central fit for Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto

Former Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. believes free agents Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto could accelerate the Cincinnati Reds' contention timeline. Schwarber and Realmuto played the last four and seven seasons, respectively, with the Phillies.

Amaro Jr. played in the MLB from 1991 to 1998, mostly for the Phillies. He was the Phillies' Assistant General Manager for 10 seasons from 1998, followed by a stint as General Manager from 2009 to 2015.

The former Phillies GM talked about free agents Schwarber and Realmuto's next destination on Tuesday's episode of "Phillies Show," co-hosted by Phillies insiders Jim Salisbury and Todd Zalecki.

"If the Cincinnati Reds really are serious about being a contender, you sign JT (Realmuto) and then you follow it up with signing Kyle Schwarber," Amaro Jr. said (Timestamp: 12:38). "They're best friends. They really care for each other. And that move,(is) much like we did with David Bell and Jim Thome."

David Bell and Jim Thome joined the Phillies as free agents in late 2022. Bell signed a four-year, $17 million deal on Nov. 25 and Thome followed suit with a six-year, $85 million contract on Dec. 2.

"I can see the Cincinnati Reds jumping forward and trying to get JT done and then follow it up," Amaro said. "And now, it's a lot of money, but they've got some money and they've got some pretty good talent. I don't know if they have that kind of money, but it's possible.You never know."

"If I'm the Cincinnati Reds right now, I go and I'm the GM (Nick) Krall, that's the move I make," he added.

While Amaro Jr. was confident in his claim, insider Salibsury pointed out that the Reds have never made a big-money move, bar the instance of extending Joey Votto. The Reds signed a 10-year, $225 million contract extension with Votto during the 2012 offseason.

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Ex-Phillies GM doubles down on his Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto claim

In the same conversation, Ruben Amaro Jr. acknowledged Salisbury's point. However, Amaro Jr. doubled down, pointing out Reds skipper Terry Francona as an X-factor for the move to happen.

"Both those guys are huge culture guys," Amaro Jr. said (Timestamp: 13:44). "Terry Francona is going to have some influence here. I got to believe that he is pushing hard to get these types of guys, if at all possible.

"Well, they have them cash. But if I'm them right now, especially in that NL Central, man, it's wide open, baby. You can take it," he added.

Francona joined the Reds in October last year. In his first season, the Reds reached the AL Wild Card Series but lost to the eventual winners, the Los Angeles Dodgers.