Ken Rosenthal is reporting in The Athletic (subscription required) that the Yankees and Cubs are conversing about Outfielder, Kyle Schwarber. So we look at what Schwarber to the Yankees could look like for both teams.
The Cost
Kyle Schwarber is a no doubt dynamic bat. And he is also coming off a career year in which he played in 155 games and hit 38 home runs and drove in 92 RBIs. So trading for Schwarber will have some inherent cost. But everyone in the league knows that Schwarber is playing out of position in the outfield, the Yankees/Cubs could match up very easily in a deal. A matchup of Kyle Schwarber and lefty reliever Danny Hultzen for Chance Adams and JA Happ plus like $5 Million should be enough of a match.
Fit on the Yankees?
Kyle Schwarber’s 2019 season was a coming-out party of sorts. And his 38 home run performance could be just a foreshadowing of what could be if Kyle were to don the Pinstripes. The Yankees are currently very right-handed. Only the recently re-signed Brett Gardner and Michael Tauchman are the left-handed options for the Yankees lineup. From a lineup perspective adding Schwarber would give the Bombers a dominant threat from the opposite side of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez.
Now when considering where exactly Schwarber would play in the Bronx, there’s this lovely position known as the Designated Hitter. Schwarber’s best defensive tool is his offense. So instead of trying to fit a square block into a round hole, give Schwarber the ability to become the Bronx version of David Ortiz.
Impact on the League
The addition of Kyle Schwarber to the lineup would give the Bombers an even more devastating force to compete against in MLB. Opposing teams would have a much more difficult time navigating the Yankees lineup with a third potential 50 home run power type of hitter in the Bronx. And when you factor the ace at the top in Gerrit Cole. Plus the fact the Yankees already have the best bullpen in baseball, and they become an even greater force.
Does this deal make sense?
So there will be a ton of deals and theories out there about Kyle Schwarber and the Yankees. So let me know your trade proposal down in the comments below.
