Chicago Cubs should go with Kyle Schwarber over Nicholas Castellanos

When it comes down to it, the Chicago Cubs are better off sticking with Kyle Schwarber and using their resources to shore up the pitching staff this winter.

By far the most exciting part of watching Cubs baseball this year was when Nicholas Castellanos came to town bringing his own Big Stick Nick persona with him to a team that was in desperate need of a spark.

But even his 1.002 OPS with Chicago wasn’t enough to save the team’s season. The Cubs finished in third in the National League Central, winning just 84 games and missing the postseason for the first time since 2014. Of course, that resulted in moving on from Joe Maddon, hiring David Ross and completely reorganizing the baseball operations team at Gallagher Way.

There were few things Castellanos did wrong in his time with the Cubs. He made a run at becoming the first player since the early 20th century to hit 60 doubles in a season and played every out of every game with an infectious energy. It’s no wonder so many fans want to see him manning the outfield for years to come.

I hate to say it, I really do. That’s not going to happen. Chicago has too many other needs (a center fielder, a second baseman, a starting pitcher and multiple relievers) to dedicate the kind of resources Castellanos is going to demand in free agency. The biggest reason of all the Cubs will move on from the slugging outfielder? His former teammate and fellow outfielder Kyle Schwarber.