7:14pm: The Cubs announced that Schwarber, Almora, right-hander Ryan Tepera and first baseman/outfielder Jose Martinez have all been non-tendered.
6:46pm: The Cubs have informed outfielder Kyle Schwarber that he won’t be tendered a contract for the upcoming season, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reports (via Twitter). USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported prior that “barring a change of plans,” the Cubs were intent on non-tendering both Schwarber and center fielder Albert Almora Jr. The Cubs do plan on tendering a contract to third baseman Kris Bryant, as MLB Network’s Jon Heyman indicated earlier in the week. Both Schwarber and Almora will become free agents once their non-tenders are made official.
Schwarber, 27, is coming off a rough season in which he put together just a .188/.308/.393 batting line in 224 plate appearances. The former No. 4 overall draft pick walked at a characteristically strong 13.4 percent clip this past season, but his 29.5 percent strikeout rate was the highest mark he’s posted since 2017. At his best, Schwarber is an above-average power bat with passable left-field defense, but he’s also had plenty of defensive struggles throughout his career.
Schwarber earned $7MM in 2020 and was due a raise on that sum. As we saw with the Twins and Eddie Rosario, who cleared waivers today, that’s not a price point at which teams appear anxious to pay above-average hitters with some notable flaws (on-base percentage in Rosario’s case; defense and strikeouts for Schwarber).
The decision to jettison Almora is far less surprising. Though he was once rated as a high-end prospect and potential everyday center fielder, the 26-year-old hasn’t provided value at the plate over the past three seasons, batting a combined .261/.299/.373 (77 wRC+). He’s a talented defender with passable career numbers against left-handed pitching, however, so he could latch on as a fourth outfielder with another club.
Tendering a contract to Bryant, meanwhile, puts the Cubs in line to pay him a raise on this year’s $18.6MM salary. For a Cubs team looking to reduce payroll, he’s still a likely trade candidate, although finding a deal could be tricky. Bryant battled injuries and hit just .206/.293/.351 in 34 games this past season, which would give potential trade partners cause for concern (as would his salary). The ceiling here, of course, is an MVP-caliber player on a reasonable one-year deal, but teams aren’t going to value him as such in light of recent struggles. Convincing a trade partner to not only absorb Bryant’s salary but also to surrender some young talent of note could prove difficult for newly minted president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer.
NOOOOOO!!! Not Babe Schwarber!!! Bu-bu-but he hit a home run on top of a scoreboard once 6 years ago!!!
All good things must come to an end.
And also Schwarber’s Cubs career.
He will be missed I still hope the NL have a DH but he will be someone’s DH.
Ha!
Helped the Cubs win a World Series Sox fan! Stop trolling the Cubs and worrying about the more successful franchise in Chicago baseball history…yup, i said that and that how’s sad the Sox’s history has been!
Sheep8:
Stop trolling? It isn’t trolling, it’s the Cub’s chickens come home to roost. It would be one thing if we didn’t have some Cub’s fans having him pose for his HoF bust, and he was just another guy whose promise didn’t fit reality. But we were exposed to Cub’s fans hyperbole about his game and now they have to wear it. If you’re going to predict greatness, and mediocrity ensues, you have to accept it. Otherwise, don’t predict greatness.
tad2b13:
sheep8 was referring to chitown311, who indeed is a no-life troll who lives to troll the mlbtr cub articles
he probably has one of the first 5 posts in 75% or better cub articles, just to make repetitive, meaningless troll statements every time
but anyway, i have no problem with criticism… and there’s plenty of that that can rightly be thrown around the cubs FO (like all others), but seriously that chitown311 dude needs to get a life, it degrades the site as a whole to let a troll this prominent go unchecked IMO
There are 108 (or however 100+ many years it was) years that say no
Most successful? They are known all around the baseball world as losers. They have always held that title. They had 1 fluke year in the last 120 years.
I would hardly call 2016 a fluke themed. That was a hard fought battle to win that WS went 7 games and then some with extra inning. I’m a Cardinals fan. Give credit where credit is due. You don’t win a WS against any team by the chance of “fluke” alot of things have to go right. You should know this.
Schwarber and Martinez might end up on another team as DH. Only rolls I would want to place either in. A lot of players had down numbers in 2020. Cubs are going to pay the price for wanting to win in 2020. Bryant has almost no trade value at this point due to massive salary and 1 year of team control. Indians are going to find the same pain in trying to trade Lindor as well. Nobody gonna wanna give up the prices these teams are wanting them to pay for a one year rental unless they can first work out an extension with the player before the trade is made. Its hard to find that perfect balance as a GM, which leaves people calling you a dumpster diver for going for it while you have the chance. I can’t stand that, sometimes in this life you only get one shot at glory, thank god Theo took it while he had the chance, NO?
themed is “hovering” again as usual.
Both clubs have 3 World Series wins. How are the Cubs more successful??? GTFOH
Hahaha
Bingo! Fat, sloppy, can’t run, can’t hit for average. The modern day Jack Cust. Good move Cubbies.
I was thinking Dave Kingman but we need to keep the DH in the NL just more fun only Bumgardner and Arrietta will be upset oh and the old farts on the baseball channel
Kingman was better. He at least hit moonshot homeruns that seemed to stay in the air for hours. Also, he over 400 HRs when at lot less players were doing it.
He lost 30 pounds and the Cubs players nic named him the fast hulk and he hit 38 home runs in his last full season. Who do you play for dawg84?
With a change of scenery and a proficient, solitary voice as his hitting coach, ‘Schwarbs’ could also be a “modern day” Hack Wilson less the drinking issues.
The guy is so overrated and so bad. He’s a poor man’s DH
Guys like you are what eventually gets the comment section discontinued. Is all you do hate?
Underrated and well above average defender. I’ve said this at least 5 times. 13 career errors 4 and a half seasons. The talking heads called him a liability after 2 bad fielding errors in the 2015 nlcs.
Yet he still has 16 OF assist the last season and a half. Led babssall in 2018 with 9.
Few errors cause Schwarber never gets to the ball to make a play!
And all those OF assists because everyone’s running on him!!!
That makes no sense
He isn’t a well above average defender. Matter of fact, Fangraphs has him as a just below average defender for every year in the league except 2018. I don’t understand how anyone could say he’s above average, let alone “well above average”. His DRS and UZR ratings are negative. Ridiculous.
Someone doesn’t look at defensive metrics.
Chitown it was 5 years ago. Then 4 years ago he hit .400 in the world series and had the leadoff hit in the 10th inning of game 7 to win the world series.
Remember how burned up and pisses off you were when the Cubs won it all! You are still not over it.
Hey I hears Carlos Rodon was not tendered. You did not hear that? He was drafted one spot ahead of Schwarber!
Just imagine if the White Sox took Schwarber the Cubs still would be searching for their 1st world series in over 112 years so thank you White Sox!
Slow, poor fielder, not much hustle, strike out king,
How long did it take you to roll off your sister, in your $100/month Canaryville attic apartment to make this comment? I’m sensing a Jeep driver with black White Sux plates.
Holy crap, Schwarbombs is only 27? Just like with Rosario, if the Rangers do plan to put Solak at 2nd, IKF at SS, Guzman at 1st, and a stopgap for Jung at 3rd, then Schwarber would be a great candidate for the LF position. I guess the list goes Ozuna, Rosario, Schwarber in that order.
Scwharber somehow looks like he’s 12 and 42 at the same time, so I guess 27 is about right.
Now that’s funny.
@Rangers29, it would be interesting to see how Schwarber would do at the new stadium. It sure seems like a park that favors pitchers slightly more than the old park did. Small sample size caveats of course…
The new Rangers’ stadium definitely favors pitching more. There is no jet stream out to right like the old stadium, and the new stadium is bigger. You really have to step on it to get it to go out. I imagine they move the fences in eventually. The gaps are huge.
I could see the Rangers being players in Schwarber and maybe trying him out at 1B/DH/LF. I could also see them in on David Dahl. That’ll make their lineup even more left handed but they could get them for relatively cheap and move them at the deadline if their value rebounds.
Minor speed-bump for the future HOF’er – Cubs fans.
The term “HOF’er” doesn’t belong in this article, even if you were joking
HOF = Hall of Failures
The next Edgar Martinez.
Ah, it’s an ankle biter reunion.
Wouldn’t mind having him on the White Sox for DH/OF and split time at those two spots with Jimenez.
To be honest, I don’t know if you do. He is kind of bad. lol
HR or K.
In a full season he gives you 38-40 home runs. The Marquee network just lost a TON of subscribers. ..INCLUDING ME.
Sounds like he would fit well on the A’s.
No!!
Sox have enough people to rotate through DH.
Vaughn/Abreu, RF (Springer) when Engel gives him rest, & backup catcher/Grandal, Eloy!
He’s a very good LFer.
NO, he isn’t. Defensive metrics have him rated as a below-average LF. He had one decent year in LF, that was in 2018. Other than that year, which proved to be an aberration, he’s below average. (DRS and UZR ratings are negative) Stats don’t lie. Plus if you don’t like stats, he doesn’t pass the eye test either. Schwarber is a good guy but is destined to be a DH. I think a move to the AL would be great for him.
Your assuming we sign springer
I’m sure are backup catcher isn’t going to hit like Mcann
Split time with Eloy ( or when Eloy goes on the DL his 2-3 times a year or can’t play like say the 3 games in Oakland )
Sit Eloy for Schwarber? Voluntarily?
Negative. He can’t play in the same outfield as Jimenez. First of all, they both play left field (the easiest position on the field) and neither is very good. Secondly placing him in RF would be a huge mistake. Robert would have to cover too much ground with bad corner OF’s. As far as DH, the WSox have too many. Vaughn will soon be called up and Abreu will be getting the majority of the AB’s
I had thought that we would trade him, and pick up Rosario. Who knows what we are thinking now. lol
Jerry dipoto wants a lefty bat and he is still young seems like a match made in heaven.
I could see him getting claimed.
Nothing to claim. He is a free agent now.
Hard nope
Giants needa sign this dude
maxleith:
I think you mean the Giants do not need to sign this guy. In fact, the Giants need to avoid him like the plague, even if the NL adopts the DH..
Right, after all nobody need a good guy with a great attitude who hits 40 homers a year. The lack of baseball knowledge here is ASTOUNDING.
looongball:
Lack of baseball knowledge? Aren’t you one that thinks the Cubs ignored trade proposals, and simply non-tendered him instead? You think the Cub’s FO is so clueless that they hurt themselves by non-tendering a guy when the could have gotten something for him.
He will get a chance with another team now that he is less expensive. His 113 wRC+ jas him as 13% above league average as a hitter, but that’s his one dimension.
As a Giant’s fan I know what kind of player they like. Schwarber is a 1B/DH. which they do not need. He is an above average hitter, not by a lot, but he is a poor defender. He has a -12 DRS in LF, where teams put their worst fielder.
Lack of baseball knowledge indeed. Look in the mirror.
“He hits 40 HRs a year”. Except he has never hit 40 HRs in a year.
Maybe kyle hits 40 bombs on the rookie setting on his playstation?
I think a move to an AL team, where he can strictly DH, would be great for him. He sees a lot of pitches. The strikeout rate has to come down though. Any K rate above 26-27% is just too high. He’s got pop.
He can play left. He doesn’t need to DH.
As a Cubs fans, this is depressing but it was the right move, if you told me after 2016 that the Cubs would be in this position and Schwarber would of been non-tendered and there was actual thought of Bryant too I would of laughed.
And they kept Bryant? lol lol lol lol.
Yes they we suppose to be a can’t miss dynasty.
Oh no. Yankees, you don’t need an eighth slugging outfielder!
But this one doesn’t spend the season on the injured list.
Yeah, there is validity to your point.
Plus he would be a DH.
Another 1B maybe
He does bring LH pop. And trade Voit?
How did you know what I was thinking, @Clipper?
Slugging outfielders are a hard habit to break, man.
How about Schwarber >>>> Mike Ford.
Uh?
Too bad the Cubs couldn’t get anything for him. If they hadn’t held onto him for so long, they may have been able to snag a decent haul for him. Same situation with Kris Bryant, although I would have been shocked to see him non-tendered.
I don’t think so. Other teams knew what the Cubs had. The only people that thought Kyle Schwarber was good were the Cub FO and Cub fans. The Yankees didn’t ask for him in the Chapman trade. They wanted Torres all along because he’s a skilled defender. Schwarber was exposed as one-dimensional a long time ago. I still think he could be effective as a DH.
As I predicted. Bryant and Sanchez would be tendered. Rosario and Schwarber would not. I’ll take my parade.
Ah yes the famous “Bryant and Sanchez will be tendered while Rosario and Schwarber will not” prediction from lordd99. I think I saw that on Sportscenter 5 weeks ago.
I want a parade, darn it. With floats. I’ll wait until June when we can all gather.
so….an idiot agrees with an idiot. big deal.
After hearing what the Cubs plans were this off-season, I figured this was easy to see coming. He won’t be without a job long.
Jay13
You’re right, someone will pick him up. If Billy Hamilton can get as many chances as he has Schwarber will get his. I don’t see him having much of an impact though.
Given the right circumstance, he should be okay. Cut down the K rate and he’ll improve. He hits the ball HARD, often He has good power and works the count..
Thanks Kyle for the big post season moments. Good luck to you, please don’t go to the White Sox or Cardinals.
Kyle’s a champ. (So is Almora.) Actually, I wouldn’t mind seeing him on the South Side. But Cardinals, no.
And they just non-tendered Tepera. That’s the reliever they should have kept.
Please don’t change your screename. I enjoy fans relishing in it
Or are you just suffering a case of unrequited love, chitown. You sound kind of desperate.
Nah, just a lot of cumuppins being served tonight. As I predicted for years.
Kylesmom…if you were to change your handle…one idea…
“Yu’s Missing Cy Young Trophy.”
Somewhat of a double entendre.
If that is true it is undoubtably one of the dumbest moves in Cubs history. Several teams would be very interested in Schwarber in trade. The Cubs don’t draw fans anymore just because of the name, their high priced pay per view network will require fan support because of loyalty to players as well and MANY of us love Schwarber.
Bryant on the other hand isn’t worth a bag of balls and Schwarber will out preform him next year too. Hoyer can’t really be that dumb, can he?
Longball——-OBVIOUSLY NO teams were interested in trading for Schwarber at this arb number of $8-9M. If ONE team was interested in paying him $9M—he would have traded. He flat out got caught in the economic fall out of Covid as will numerous other players. Expect to see Kyle sign a very short deal in the $4-5M range.
As for your comment on Bryant—-Schwarber has never and never will out perform him. Even when Bryant had a terrible year he outperformed Schwarber.
Cub fans will realize how good Kris Bryant is——when he is playing on another team and they are watching David Bote play third base.
Whiner Bryant is THE most OVERRATED 3rd baseman in Cubs history. 80% of his errors are listed as hits and for someone with his SUPERSTAR reputation he’s even a lousy baserunner. Schwarber will be replaced with someone but the attendance loss for marqee will be significant. Just because the uninformed haters on here are everywhere doesn’t mean they are right
looongball:
Wow, you accuse others of lacking baseball knowledge yet post some really ignorant takes. Calling Kris Bryant a whiner shows you’re letting emotion affect whatever baseball knowledge you possess..
Bryant has a wRC+ 26 points higher than Schwarber making him a much better hitter by over 25%. But unlike the one-dimensional Schwarber, Bryant is an asset in the field. He can play multiple positions. I guess Schwarber can too if those positions are 1B and DH. Bryant plays a more critical position, 3B than Schwarber. And in LF, Bryant has a DRS 17 points better than Schwarber.
Keep defending Schwarber, and denigrating Bryant. It gives all of us a a good idea of your baseball knowledge.
80% of errors listed as hits? Wow that is a lot. What is your source.
And by the way he is an outstanding base runner
He’s on of the best base runners in the game. Case in point. He scored from a shallow fly ball to center in game 7. 95% with better speed don’t tag up. From 1st to home quite easily in the same game.
He’s even regarded as one of the best base runners in baseball.
wrek305:
To say he’s one of the best base-runners in the game is an absurd exaggeration. Anecdotal evidence aside, he’s decent, a slightly above average base runner.
So tell me, I admit he’s an above average hitter, so if he’s such a good base-runner, and an above average fielder as you assert, why is no team in baseball willing to trade anything for him? Why are the Cubs willing to let him walk for nothing if he’s such a good fielder, and base-runner as well as a good hitter?
Maybe because, despite being a good hitter, he really isn’t that good at anything else.
Rewatch Game 7 of the World Series—-A STRONG case could be made that by itself Kris Bryant’s base running won the game alone won the game and World Series. I don’t know all players, but it is easy to see Bryant as one of the top five or ten base runners in the entire sport.
looongball:
Well it would be a dumb move if they could have traded Schwarber for any kind of return. And therein lies the flaw in your post. It wasn’t a dumb move because the Cubs were absolutely not getting anything for Schwarber. If they could have, he would have been traded.
Any interest in Schwarber from other teams amounts to waiting to see if he would be non-tendered, then maybe take a flyer, but nobody was going to trade anything for him.
Loooongball, you’re delusional. Kris Bryant is better at baseball than Kyle Schwarber, and it really isn’t close. Matter of fact, they aren’t even in the same ballpark. (no pun intended) Bryant is a 24 WAR player in the last 6 years, compared to Schwarber at 5 WAR. Bryant’s BA is 50 points higher than Schwarber in the same amount of time, and his K rate is about 9% less. Plus, Bryant is a better defender (at more positions). I understand you like a player, he’s on your team, but Schwarber can’t hold Bryant’s bat bag. BTW stats don’t lie.
Exactly, because where’s Schwarber’s Rookie of the Year award and Most Valuable Player award? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
The Cubs will regret this. Mock all you want, I could see him signing w his fave team as a youth, the Reds, and haunting the Cubs in the future.
Why? He has always been overrated… just like Addison russel
The Reds have no spot in the field or even available DH ABs for Schwarber. Already have too many OFrs, with Winker first in line for an potential DH ABs.
I think he goes AL. He could be an effective DH if he brings the K rate down.
Not everyday you see teams non tendering MVP candidates like Ryan Tepera.
What?! The Cubs are non-tendering MVP candidate Ryan Tepera?
What??? Cubs non tenure MVP vote recipient Ryan Tepera?
that’s MVP candidate Ryan Tepera to you!
While the media in Chicago and most Cub fans are bending over to kiss Theo’ backside. Just remember they just had to cut a # 4 & # 6 1st round draft choices. This also is work of the great Theo Epstein
Actually, I was just looking at that. For position players (which is what they were targeting at the time), the only ones to significantly out perform Almora in a slot not too far from where they were drafted were Addison Russell and Cory Seager.
For Kyle’s draft, the better draftees are Michael Conforto and Trea Turner. Kyle ranks 8th in rWAR from the 2014 round, which is respectable.
So, these weren’t the strongest drafts for talent.
If Contreras hadn’t developed, I wonder if Kyle would still be catching more than he actually did.
Schwarber in left isn’t that bad. He’s a very good defender. Haters will hate but 13 errors in 4 and half years is well above average.
wrek305:
Errors is a terrible way to judge defense. Advance stats say he’s not a good defender. He has a -12 DRS in LF which is bad, especially for the easiest position in the OF.
So you’re saying if he had 40 errors in 40 games but 4DRS He’d be better? Doubt it. He’s an above average defender plain and simple
Can’t make errors on balls you don’t touch and since Flapjacks has fall down range he isn’t going to make many errors.
His UZR rating is NEGATIVE. He doesn’t get to balls other LF’s do. His defensive numbers in 2018 were above average, but that proved to be an aberration. He isn’t a good LF. Stats don’t lie. I get it, you’re a Cub fan and you go all out for the players on your team. That’s great. However, the metrics suggest he is a below-average LF. Deal with it.
And a lot of first rounders were non-tendered today: Bubba Starling, Tyler Naquin, David Dahl
I believe Theo left a year early because for a while now it has been Hoyer and Rickets against Epstein.
That’s a THEOry loongball.
I like to think that the Ricketts wanted to restart the rebuild a year early to offset covid 2020 losses and hedge on attendance restrictions in 2021.
In opposition, Theo would’ve pointed to their playoff history over the last half dozen seasons missing once, and said they had at least one more run with this core left in them.
Again, ownership would’ve said my way or the highway, Theo said fine by me, and the shook hands to part ways with the official face saving lines for public consumption.
Cashman calling in 3….2…..1
The user likely has a different handle on here now-but Schwarber’s Mom likely needs a hug.
His mother commented above, she is likely grieving right now.
I could see this coming after the Cubs bowed out in the playoffs. A new handle may be coming for me though. Maybe I can transfer this username to a fan of a team where Kyle lands (kind of like Doctor Who – a new incarnation of kyleschwarbersmom).
No, man. Keep the name! It’s even better now.
Rangers29…there is serious lag on seeing new posts on the app(only?). One can see why; considering the tendency to for people online to type things they would only say in person when a supportive mob was behind them.
I see his posts now…if I was an alias alternator, I woulda been “Seager’s Uncle” in 2016
This arb thing is redic… if they got a raise the previous year and played horrid the next then they should lose money not increase it
Or, why not eliminate arbitration and allow any player to be a free agent after four years?
Why? Arb should never get higher than the qo
It should not even reach qo number… max should be halved the qo
Schwarber one of my favs. This is going to be an interesting free agency.
As all this is going on I’m chanting here in the back for a Bryant update lol.
The cubs probably are tired of schwarbers mom hanging around the clubhouse all of the time. Creeper!
Surprised to see Tepera get cut after receiving an MVP Vote this year (kidding).
Putting the HR ball under glass on top of the scoreboard made a legend out of a barely mediocre player. But solo HR’s in blow out games get all the glory, not hitting in run scoring situations or simple fundamental baseball like base running or the ability to make contact to move runners over instead of striking out or hitting into the shift.
Well JHan,it’s the FO mentality and the easily-aroused fanboy that makes these players seem like legends. I’ve never seen a fan base worship mediocre players more than what Cubs fans do to their players
I think one of the problems is that they hype these guys up and thus put additional pressure on them. I love Luis Robert, but I want to see him develop and I am just happy to see a badass GG CF on our team who isn’t an offensive black hole. I think he’ll get better, but I don’t expect absurd things from him. You have to let these guys develop.
Smart business and lineup moves by the Cubs. Need contact hitting
Weather should have been moved 2 years ago.blame this on the very,very overrated theo epstein.
I think this was a mistake. He doesn’t get enough love in left field. He’s above average 4 and half year and he only has 13 errors.
Still might return to the Cubs. The Yankees, however, have had an interest in him for years, but that was before Stanton took over the DH slot and Voit at 1B. Still, wouldn’t surprise me if they tried to sign him to add a lefty bat.
I have Schwarber going to Cleveland…. The fit is too perfect for both Schwarber and Cleveland.
I wouldnt rule him resigning with them at a lesser contract…and also if he goes at the 4 to 5 mill area which seems about right for him right now i would think he should have many possible suitors he is still young and has 30 hr pop plenty teams can forgive the lack of overall contact for the right price…and he does takes walks at a higher rate then u would expect for someone who strikes out as much as he does.
Anyone think Boston signs Schwarber?
Yup one of my first thoughts actually ..yankees liked him alot tryed trading for him more then once..although he isnt really a fit for them now un less they unload someone with a larger contract cost saving type thing but thay seems unlikely
Yeah. Yankees don’t need him. He’d be great in Boston though. Probably won’t cost them a ton plus he’s young!
Agreed on top of all the homeruns he hit he had tons of others that were very close so the green monster would be kind to him probably more doubles to go with homeruns in boston
MVP jokes aside, I’m surprised they let Tepera go. Not an amazing ERA, but he can get some K’s
Hate to see him go as a Cubs fan but I think a change of scenery could really help Schwarber. He’s been through a lot there from early legendary status to a major knee injury. Then again another legendary run in the ‘16 World Series. All that on top of learning a new position and trying to lead off. I agree we all thought he could do the lead off stint but maybe his approach changed even if just psychologically. Something happened but after being sent down thru ‘19 he was pretty solid. I’m not putting much into his numbers this year obviously after 60 games. Wish him the best and wouldn’t be surprised to see him be a solid power bat for the rest of the decade.
I think Schwarber will do just fine elsewhere. As a Cubs fan, I always felt that he was too patient and looking for a perfect pitch. He would get into a lot of deep counts and have too many ABs where he only took one swing or got caught looking on a close pitch.
The power is obvious but i think his hit tool is higher than he has shown. 2020 Stats can be thrown out the window. He’s a good ballplayer who i think still has upside and can benefit from adjusting his approach and while he’s not a great left fielder, he is ok and throws really well. I think he’ll get a multi-year deal somewhere as he can help a lot of teams. i wish him the best.
Twins fans should be all over signing Schwarber for his walks because that’s why, as they are saying, they cut loose Rosario.
Wouldn’t be surprised if the Yankees go after Schwarber. Cashman had been after him for years. Not much place for him in the lineup but those things always have a way of working themselves out
Watching Schwarber play outfield was hilarious as a non Cubs fan. I hope he ends up in Colorado so we can watch him desperately lumber around and chase balls in that huge outfield. Dude looks like a baked ham that was brought to life through the power of Christmas magic.
I’m a huge Kyle Schwarber fan. I would love to see the White Sox sign him to an incentive laden one-year contract. He could be the primary DH versus RHP and backup Eloy Jimenez in LF. He might also be an occasional option in RF with a decent enough arm as a former catching prospect. Schwarber could also provide a needed left-handed power bat off the bench on days when a southpaw starts for the opposition.
I believe Schwarber has yet to reach his full potential as an MLB hitter and a change of scenery might do the trick. He was the victim of some misuse by former Cubs manager Joe Maddon, particularly when the ‘genius’ continually tried to make a leadoff hitter out of the slow-footed slugger. Like so many other Cub hitters, some of his struggles might have been the result of the hitting coach carousel on the northside that has seen a new instructor nearly every season since their 2016 championship, including 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Despite his high grades at the White Sox alternate site this past summer, I suspect Andrew Vaughn will need some time in AAA before making his 2021 MLB debut at 1B/DH in an expected timeshare with Jose Abreu. Vaughn has yet to play above A+ ball as a pro. Schwarber would get the bulk of PA’s as the White Sox DH, perhaps in an early season timeshare with likely #3 catcher Yermin Mercedes who slugs from the right side.
I can also envision Schwarber returning to the Cubs at a lesser AAV, perhaps with a contract that keeps him on the northside for an additional year or two beyond the 2021 season. This would be more feasible if the NL adopts the DH for the upcoming season. It’s a forgone conclusion that the DH will become universal in MLB as part of the next CBA which expires following the 2021 season.
Too many K’s for Schwarber!!
Do NOT want him on Sox.
Lots of BB’s and bombs from a lefty bat works for me and the White Sox batting order. As I stated before, Schwarbs could benefit from a change of scenery and a better hitting coach, something the White Sox have in Frank Menechino. You don’t have to take my word for it either. Hall of Fame player and current White Sox executive Jim Thome also had high praise for Schwarber. Thome sees a lot of similarity between Schwarber and himself as an MLB hitter, namely patience at the plate and the ability to crush the baseball.
Schwarber is an above average hitter, and he might hit better with the proverbial change of scenery, but he is still a one-dimensional player. A lot of teams want to improve defensively, and he is not going to help in that regard. If there’s a team in need of a DH he might just be the ticket. And if the NL adopts the DH his market increases.
He could be productive, and I wouldn’t bet against it, but probably at far less than the exalted predictions that have been made. But given his limitations in the field, he could be useful, but I think he’ll remain a one-dimensional player.
Ender Inciarte, Austin Riley, and a pitching prospect for Bryant. Make it happen AA.
Somewhere, Joe Buck weeps.
He is a DH and should have been traded last year. The Cubs need to admit that they are in rebuild mold and start dumping salary and rebuilding the farm system. Would love to see an all Chicago World Series.
If the Cubs go into rebuild mode, their window will be opening as the Sox’ window is closing, with maybe a year or two of overlap. They need to shake things up, but I don’t think they need a complete rebuild. Still some good talent on that team and a lot of guys underperformed in 2020.
Giants please.
I don’t think Cubs fans have to worry about Schwarber going to St.Louis since they are broke every offseason, but claim they need this and that and end up with nothing. Cardinals will be lucky if they re-sign both Molina and Wainwright this winter. I can see Wong going out west to be closer to his home in Hawaii. I believe he has 3 options out west with either San Fransisco, Oakland and LA Angels. I don’t know if Seattle would spend the money to bring in Wong. .Colorado would be too cold for him to play in and both Padres and Dodgers seem set at 2nd base with Cronenworth (forgive me if I misspelled his name) and Gavin Lux with the Dodgers.