Could Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant reunite with Washington Nationals?
Don’t look now Chicago Cubs fans, but the stars could potentially align for a reunion of Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber in Washington Nationals gear in 2022.
Could Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber have a Chicago Cubs reunion with the Washington Nationals in 2022?
There are plenty of reasons why the duo could potentially both end up with the Washington Nationals in 2022. Let’s start with Schwarber, who signed with Washington as a free agent last offseason and played 72 games with the Nationals in 2021 before being traded to the Boston Red Sox. He hit 25 home runs during his time in D.C. and made history in the process, including tying a Major League Baseball record with five home runs over a two-game span. He then continued the history-making home run spree by hitting nine home runs in a six-day span between June 19-25.
His power made him legendary with the Nationals and, with the designated hitter likely coming to the National League in 2022, Schwarber would be a solid fit for a Washington lineup that is still trying to see what it will look like next season. Plus, he has already spent part of the offseason with Washington manager Dave Martinez, stirring up the possibility of a Washington return.
Part of those lineup questions include what the Nationals will do at third base, where the Nationals were reportedly interested in bringing in Bryant at last season’s trade deadline before he was obtained by the San Francisco Giants.
Washington has shifted Carter Kieboom to third base (starting 59 games there last season), but struggled with a .207/.301/.318 slash line in 217 at-bats. Bringing in Bryant would give the Nationals a needed boost at third base and also allow the almost-30-year-old Bryant the opportunities to play in the outfield as well when needed as he did in San Francisco and Chicago. As Jim Bowden of The Athletic said in this column (subscription required), Bryant would be a “perfect fit” in Washington.
Next. Is a Washington reunion with Ryan Zimmerman in the works?. dark
After leading the Cubs to the World Series title in 2016, could the duo come back together for another run at a championship in Washington? If the Nationals are looking to build momentum off Juan Soto’s incredible 2021 campaign, bringing Schwarber and Bryant into Washington could push the franchise back into relevancy in the National League East.