This winter’s MLB free-agent class is loaded with quality hitters, but Kyle Schwarber is a guy who seems to be flying under the radar.
The 28-year-old is coming off of a fantastic 2021 season, and he’s likely going to make some team very happy in 2022.
The slugger posted a .928 OPS, 148 OPS+, and 4.0 offensive bWAR in 2021.
He racked up 32 home runs and 19 doubles along the way, and at one point, he homered 12 times in a span of 10 games.
Clearly, this guy brings a lot of value to the table.
Thing is, he’s a pretty poor defender, and it seems like his best fit might be as a designated hitter.
With the universal DH rumored to be on the way in 2022, there are a lot of teams that could use a guy like Schwarber.
Let’s get into a few possibilities.
3. Chicago Cubs
Anyone for a little reunion?
Schwarber started his career with the Chicago Cubs and helped the team win the 2016 World Series.
The 2021 season was his first year not wearing a Cubs uniform, and to some folks, it felt strange.
Countless fans in Chicago are campaigning for a reunion.
There haven’t been any whispers yet this offseason connecting Schwarber to the Cubs, but it might be something to keep an eye on.
Players often find their way back to their first team, and we’ll have to wait and see if that’s a possibility with Schwarber.
2. Boston Red Sox (Re-Sign)
A week ago, the Boston Red Sox might have been higher on this list, but things have changed since then.
J.D. Martinez recently decided to remain with the club for the 2022 season, and as a result, it’s a little harder to see the Red Sox retaining Schwarber.
That’s because both Martinez and Schwarber are DH-type guys.
Having two such players around isn’t an ideal fit.
Moreover, Boston is going to have to pick its battles financially this offseason, and it now owes Martinez around $19 million in 2022.
It might not be the best use of payroll to spend big bucks on Schwarber given the Martinez element of the situation.
That said, the club is apparently still interested in bringing Schwarber back, so the Red Sox make this list for that reason.
In due time, we’ll see how serious Boston really is about re-signing the one-time All-Star.
1. Philadelphia Phillies
One MLB insider recently took an educated guess at picking Schwarber’s landing spot.
Which team was it?
The Philadelphia Phillies.
“I’m gonna say — now that Kevin Long is the hitting coach of the Phillies — that Schwarber winds up with the Phillies,” Jon Heyman predicted. “And again, we’re looking at the possibility of the universal DH, so there could be room for [Rhys] Hoskins and Schwarber in Philly.”
Long and Schwarber have a lot of experience working together, so Philadelphia might be a great fit for Schwarber.
Sometimes, a good relationship is all it takes to draw a player to an organization.
Moreover, it seems like Schwarber enjoys hitting in NL East ballparks and facing NL East opponents.
For his career, he has a .901 OPS and 34 home runs to his credit over 130 games against the NL East.
Maybe that means nothing, or maybe it’s an indication of things to come.
But one thing is for sure: The Phillies seem like a very viable landing spot for Schwarber.
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