ORLANDO, Fla. – The first domino has fallen.

Kyle Schwarber, the top slugger of this year’s free-agent class, is returning to the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million contract, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

The Boston Red Sox were one of several teams in the mix for Schwarber, whom they previously acquired from the Washington Nationals at the ’21 trade deadline. He played 41 regular-season games and helped Boston make an unexpectedly deep postseason run before becoming a free agent and signing a four-year, $79 million contract with the Phillies that winter.

Boston is prioritizing a powerful bat for the middle of their lineup, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow reiterated Monday. The Red Sox ranked 15th in home runs this season, finishing two short of league average. S

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