Chicago Cubs: Possible Kyle Schwarber trade destinations
After losing in the National League Championship Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago Cubs head into the offseason looking to make some moves to better their roster. One drastic change could involve a Kyle Schwarber trade.
Theo Epstein ended the Boston Red Sox curse only to do the same a decade later with the Chicago Cubs. Both times he led the front office by making necessary trades. This winter he must follow his own blueprint if the Cubs really want to turn their 2016 championship into a possible dynasty.
Slugger Kyle Schwarber is certainly an intriguing trade chip that the Cubs could deal. Bound for the American League, Schwarber looks like an ideal DH. He’s a man with no real position, struggling to find his way in the outfield.
Of all the young players the Cubs have, this young man is one of the most tradable. He doesn’t turn 25 until March and has already showcased terrific power.
Beyond connecting with home runs, the rest of Schwarber’s abilities are a bit mysterious. In this most recent season, he smacked 30 home runs in 486 plate appearances. Unfortunately, his .211 batting average caught more attention as did his poor defense. The ex-catcher hasn’t figured out left field yet which is why a move to a team in need of a DH or first baseman is inevitable.
The Cubs need more than a curse coming to a close for another World Series victory. They need to make sacrifices. Among them is trading promising young players like Schwarber. The team is likely to lose Jake Arrieta and Wade Davis this offseason. This puts them in the market to make some moves, which dealing Schwarber can help accomplish.
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are pretty much set for 2018. One area they could improve upon is the DH spot. Veteran Carlos Beltran won’t return next year which means the search for a new option will begin. Is Schwarber the man for the job?
The Astros could use another left-handed bat in their lineup. Brian McCann and Josh Reddick are the only everyday players who swing exclusively from the left side. Add Schwarber in as a possibility and the lineup is more balanced.
Schwarber fits in well with the home run happy Houston team. He’s also built like McCann and Evan Gattis. In fact, I would even call him a younger version of Gattis with a left-handed swing.
Like Gattis, Schwarber moved from behind the plate to the outfield. Gattis has since returned to his roots, but has primarily been a DH with occasional first base starts for the Astros. It may seem as if Houston would have no need for Schwarber, but consider this: he swings from the opposite side of the plate and has a lot more home run power. If they were to hypothetically trade Gattis, Schwarber may actually be an improvement.
The biggest hurdle I foresee in this possibility is that the Astros have many DH options available in free agency. Mark Reynolds and Adam Lind won’t cost them a single prospect and both would probably take one-year deals. Meanwhile, Schwarber will cost at least one notable prospect.
New York Yankees
For a while, the New York Yankees looked like a definite favorite to add Schwarber. This was especially true last winter when Schwarber looked available. Perhaps it was because Schwarber missed nearly all of 2016 that kept the Yankees from pursuing further.
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Now that they know he is fully healthy, the chase can begin. The Yankees have plenty of DH options next year, but are they any better than Schwarber?
As we witnessed in the postseason, Chase Headley and Jacoby Ellsbury aren’t offensive forces. They are veterans the Yankees, unfortunately, couldn’t deal away earlier. Headley may have increased some value with a solid 2017 campaign. Ellsbury, meanwhile, will stay in New York if only because of his albatross of a contract.
This doesn’t mean the Yankees should settle for less. Schwarber can play some first base for them, too, if he does end up in the Bronx. No one should believe Greg Bird is an everyday MLB player yet so finding an alternative solution is beneficial.
Tales of lefties hammering baseballs at the short porch in right field in the Bronx could also play a factor in any potential deal. Rather than sign another Matt Holliday this offseason, the Baby Bombers would be smarter to at least ask what Schwarber will cost.
Oakland Athletics
From the two teams that played in the 2017 ALCS to one of the worst teams in baseball, the Oakland Athletics may actually be the best fit for Schwarber. As long as he draws walks they should want him, right?
Schwarber does fit that requirement with an average of 78 walks per 162 games in his short career. Beyond that, he does add his great power to a lineup that’s beginning to fill out nicely with pop.
The Athletics have a few young players who may prevent Schwarber from ever suiting up for them. First baseman Matt Olson should occupy a starting role next year with third baseman Matt Chapman across the diamond. It’s a matter of whether the Athletics believe in Ryan Healy or not that could determine if Schwarber’s name gets tossed around.
Next: Rangers season review, offseason preview
It’s not likely the Athletics put together a plan to compete in 2018. They just traded Sonny Gray and still have Jed Lowrie to unload. With the Cubs’ greatest need in the starting rotation, it may be hard to find a match in a trade. Of course, they could always use a trade involving Schwarber as an opportunity to replenish their farm system. The Athletics have lots of young talent to catch the Cubs’ attention.