Passing Schwarbs around
Granted free agency by the Cubs at the end of the 2020 season, Kyle Schwarber signed with the Washington Nationals. But when the Nats tanked, he was forwarded to the Red Sox, who at the time were in a tight postseason fight.
The Red Sox did eventually reach the postseason, and not only eliminated the Yankees but took down Tampa Bay in the division series before losing the ALCS to Houston. Schwarber was a contributor to the pennant drive, batting .291 with seven home runs.
But after tearing up the Yanks and Rays, he flopped against Houston’s pitching, getting just three base hits in 25 ALCS at-bats in the six-game loss. With runners on base, he was 1-for-7 with a strikeout and a double play grounder. His one run-producing hit, a grand slam, came as the cherry atop a 12-3 Boston blowout in Game 3.
At season’s end, Schwarber left Boston for Philadelphia.
The cost to Boston of obtaining Schwarber turned out to be minor league pitcher Aldo Ramirez. Assigned to the Nats’ Rookie League team in 2022, Ramirez has had a rough time; pitching fewer than eight innings he has an 8.22 ERA. Still, the Nats project him as their 10th-best prospect with a potential 2024 arrival date.
Verdict: If the Red Sox goal was to reach the 2021 postseason (hint: it wasn’t), then Schwarber delivered. Otherwise, this trade so far has been a washout both ways.