Cubs shouldn’t even think about trading Kyle Schwarber

Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber shouldn’t be considered a trade chip.

Kyle Schwarber has been mentioned in trade rumors since way back in 2016. After Schwarber came back to help the Chicago Cubs win the World Series there were talks about teams looking to make a trade for the slugger  The New York Yankees were one team that has kept popping up in those rumors. So far, there hasn’t been an offer enticing enough to pry Schwarber from the Cubs.

Schwarber has had a pretty crazy career so far. He burst onto the scene in a big way during the 2015 postseason and set records at every step during the Cubs’ improbable October run. Of course he missed almost the entire 2016 season with a knee injury and came back in the World Series and after not seeing live pitching all year and didn’t miss a beat.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs: Adrian Sampson is forcing his way into the conversation
• Projecting the Chicago Cubs bullpen to open the 2023 season
• Cubs fans are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel
• Justin Steele has evolved into a frontline starter for the Cubs
• The future of first base is murky right now for the Cubs

The winter before the 2017 season was probably the highest his trade value has ever been. Teams saw what he did as rookie in 2015 and during the historic 2016 World Series. But the Cubs were not budging on trading him. They were committed to the long-term with Schwarber. Then in 2017, he struggled and spent some time in the minors – yet still ended up hitting 30 home runs.

Schwarber’s best run was in the second half of 2019. While everyone was in talking about new Cub Nick Castellanos, Schwarber was having a just as good, if not better, second half. In 257 plate appearances, Schwarber batted .280 with 20 home runs, 49 RBI and 27 walks. That was exactly what Chicago envisioned when it drafted him in the first round in 2014.

Schwarber struggled at the plate in 2020 as most of the Cubs did. He only hit .188 with 11 home runs and he struck out nearly 30 percent of the time. Now I wouldn’t look too much into 2020 numbers as many historically strong performers around the league struggled.

We are heading into the third winter where we’re seeing multiple Cubs’ names pop up in trade rumors. Kris Bryant’s name has been floated along with Schwarber’s already in this young offseason.

The Cubs can’t trade Schwarber this winter – and here’s why. His defense has improved over the last few seasons to make him an average to above average presence in left field. But with the DH possibly returning to the NL again in 2021, he is a guy that could be perfectly suited for the role moving forward.

Schwarber has proven to be one of the Cubs’ best hitters, capable of both working walks and hitting for power. At this point we know what he is – a guy that’s going to get on base a ton and hit homers. He’s not a guy thats going to hit for a high average, plain and simple.

Frankly, I don’t see Theo Epstein trading Schwarber. He’s flat-out said the Schwarber draft pick is the one he and his baseball operations group are most proud of. They have had multiple chances to trade him and it hasn’t happened yet and I don’t see any reason why that changes now.