After being non-tendered by the Chicago Cubs this week, Kyle Schwarber joined a free-agent class without much in the way of certainty for players that are best-geared to DH.
The National League temporarily introduced the DH in 2020, and the long-held belief is that it will become permanent as part of the new collective bargaining agreement that needs to be in place before the 2022 season. Still, there's no agreement for the DH to be in the National League in 2021, and while MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal has reported that MLB and MLBPA plan to discuss the future of the DH this month, it's extremely difficult to build your team without any certainty.
With the possibility that the senior circuit ultimately will have the DH in 2021, players like Schwarber, Nelson Cruz and Marcell Ozuna are motivated to be patient in free agency, because additional suitors could emerge depending upon the rules ultimately put in place for this coming season. Schwarber, of course, has spent his entire career in the National League, but he has -12 career defensive runs saved, which tells you that the 27-year-old should probably sign with a team where he could DH at least on a part-time basis.
With the acknowledgement that this list could change if National League teams are made aware that the DH will return in 2021, here are five American League organizations that make sense as landing spots for Schwarber:
Minnesota Twins
Kyle Schwarber is a free agent for the first time in his career.(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)The Twins make quite a bit of sense for Schwarber, especially after they non-tendered Eddie Rosario, a left-handed power threat, earlier this week. Schwarber's best fit is to DH, which may become a moot point if the team re-signs Nelson Cruz. However, the possibility exists that Cruz departs in free agency, opening up the DH spot for someone like Schwarber. Rosario's non-tender means that the Twins are looking for a left fielder, though they may address that need internally with Alex Kirilloff and Brent Rooker.
Seattle Mariners
Could Kyle Schwarber stay in Chicago?(Charles LeClaire/USA Today)Jerry DiPoto's Mariners may not quite be ready to contend for the postseason in 2021, but they seem to be turning the corner, as evidenced by the fact the Mark Feinsand of MLB.com says that they are interested in former American League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. While Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times noted that the Mariners wouldn't a perfect fit for Schwarber, he acknowledged that the team could stand to add such a power threat into the lineup. And considering how much DiPoto likes to make trades, he's probably already thinking about what he could move Schwarber for if he has a bounce-back season in 2021.
Detroit Tigers
Kyle Schwarber is probably best-suited to be a DH.(Joe Camporeale/USA Today)Future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera is firmly entrenched at DH at this stage of his career, though a still rebuilding Tigers team could consider using Schwarber in left field. Schwarber, in all likelihood, would be a below-average defender in left field, but if he has a resurgence offensively, a contending team in need of a DH could call Tigers' general manager Al Avila in the summer and work out a trade for Schwarber's services.
New York Yankees
Kyle Schwarber has long been connected to the Yankees.(Jim Owens/USA Today)On paper, the Yankees don't have an especially clear fit for Schwarber, though they've been connected to him for so long that it would be malpractice not to at least mention them. Giancarlo Stanton is seemingly locked in at the DH spot, and if the team brings back Brett Garnder, it will already be in addition to Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and Clint Frazier in the outfield. Way back in 2016 when the Yankees and Cubs were discussing a trade package for Aroldis Chapman, an unnamed person with knowledge of the situation told Jeff Passan that general manager Brian Cashman believed that Schwarber was capable of hitting 50 home runs if he played his home games in the Bronx. We'll learn this winter if Cashman is still as high on Schwarber.
Texas Rangers
Kyle Schwarber has spent his entire career with the Cubs.(Daniel Bartel/USA Today)Willie Calhoun, the Rangers' primary DH in 2020, finished the season with an unsightly OPS of .491. Schwarber would be a low-risk, high-reward replacement at a position of need for the Rangers, and add thump into a lineup that already includes Joey Gallo and should get notable production from Josh Jung and Sam Huff, the organization's top two prospects, in 2021. If the Rangers are ultimately unable to compete this upcoming season, Schwarber would become a trade chip for Jon Daniels and company.
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