The Philadelphia Phillies have built up a sizable lead in the National League East division thanks to their core of veteran stars, but one slugger has stood out from the rest.

In the final year of his Phillies contract, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is posting the best production of his career and making a serious case to become the league’s Most Valuable Player when it’s all said and done. He’s unlikely to seize that award from Shohei Ohtani, but he’s surely earning himself a lucrative new contract going forward.

Phillies fans are hoping that contract will come as a reunion with the team, but they’ve got to recognize the possibility that Schwarber will defect for another suitor, particularly as the price tag for his next contract continues to rise. And if that’s the case, ESPN’s Major League Baseball insider Jeff Passan suggested the Phillies could look to Chicago Cubs superstar Kyle Tucker as a consolation prize.

“The Philadelphia Phillies could desperately use a big corner outfield bat, particularly if (Schwarber) takes his talents elsewhere,” Passan wrote, listing the Phillies, Giants and Cubs as suitors that will be “in the mix” for Tucker. “The market will find Tucker, as it eventually does with the best players in every class.”

The addition of Tucker would certainly fill one of the Phillies’ most persistent roster gaps by bringing in a clear cut-starter to the mix in the outfield. But it would be an expensive upgrade, even if Schwarber’s salary is off the books.

“So, yeah, the number is going to be big – likely in the $400 million range,” Passan projected for Tucker’s next contract.

Still, Tucker might be the only potential free agent on the market who could offer some consolation to fans if the Phillies end up losing Schwarber.