Chicago Cubs: Top four landing spots for Kyle Schwarber

Expect tons of interest in former Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber this offseason.

I still haven’t fully processed my emotions or even my rational thoughts surrounding the non-tendering of Kyle Schwarber this week and I don’t expect to in the very near future. Schwarber and Javier Baez are, or guess I should say were, my favorite Cubs, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that regard with one of the two.

Rather than get into my own personal feelings about the decision in this article, it might be better to discuss his possible landing spots. I can always save that other article for the near future, maybe even when it’s known where he’s headed.

Schwarber is only 27 years old and, in baseball terms, he’s entering his prime. As a slugger, especially given the probability of a DH for both leagues going forward, he could easily have another decade of productivity ahead of him. Now, you could debate what kind of productivity or lack thereof he may be capable of, but no one can really argue his penchant for hitting balls hard, hitting balls far and his age.

Much has been made of Theo Epstein’s love affair with his personally-drafted man-child, but it’s not just the Cubs who are and have been intrigued by the “Warbird.” This is a guy who has as many incredible postseason feats as anyone in the past decade, makes pitchers not even come close to the zone and also one who everyone knows will work his tail off to become better at whatever he sets his mind to.

There will be multiple teams in on Schwarber and his potential as well as his potential services. Let’s take a dive into some possible landing spots that would best fit the slugger and the team who would make him rich.

Chicago Cubs: Pesky Pole and the Monster are inviting targets

While many Cubs fans have written him off for his inconsistency, strikeouts, sometimes-passive approach or defensive limitations, you can bet the farm on the fact that Schwarber is the most intriguing player available in baseball right now. I say that not because he’s better or more sought after than George Springer, Trevor Bauer, J.T. Realmuto, D.J. LeMahieu or Marcus Semien. I say it because he is a lightning rod for mixed opinions and different perspectives.

He’s also likely to be had for cheap. I don’t mean a million dollars cheap, but someone could swoop in and ink him to a long-term deal for a reasonable amount if they feel he’s going to become more consistent in another locale or with a different hitting instructor. Maybe someone feels he just needs to go out there and hit like he did in 2015 when he broke into the bigs with a flourish.

A team very much like the Cubs is a likely landing spot for the big guy. A team, say, who has broken a curse, recently won a championship, but then also started a bit of a tear down and reload, mostly due to financial reasons.

The Boston Red Sox have the same type of rabid fanbase as the Cubs, and probably even take their baseball more seriously. They love folk heroes, sluggers and sweet left-handed swings that can punch balls the other way off the Monstah, tank them to center or hook them around the Pesky Pole.

They also offer a small area to roam in left field (if they slid Andrew Benintendi to center field), as well as a DH slot (currently occupied by J.D. Martinez, but that could change with the amount of money he’s making if the Sox can find a taker) that could be available long-term. They also boast a respected hitting coach in Tim Hyers who loves to talk hitting and purportedly adjusts his advice and coaching to each and every hitter.

If the Red Sox front office, Alex Cora and Hyers think they can get the most out of Schwarber’s potential, a team-friendly long term deal would be a gamble to some, but a chance at catching lightning in a bottle… or at least in the “Wonderboy” Schwarber could swing at Fenway.

Chicago Cubs: The pride of Middletown, Ohio

As rough as it would be to see Schwarber go to one of the AL East juggernauts, at least Cubs fans wouldn’t have to deal with it very often. Sure, it might be tough to swallow if he goes to either place and mashes, but it’s not going to have much direct impact on games the Cubs play since they won’t be playing often.

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You can throw all that out the window if Schwarber would go to a team in the NL Central. While part of me almost hopes this is exactly what happens, it would be too much to bear and watch if he’s launching bombs against the Cubs 19 times a year. While I’m not sure I see this happening in Pittsburgh, St. Louis or Milwaukee, I could absolutely see Schwarber choose to sign with Cincinnati.

In case you didn’t know or weren’t listening to any of the Cubs games against the Reds the past six seasons, Schwarber is the pride of Middletown, Ohio and his family has deep roots in the area. With Middletown just 37 miles up I-75 from Cincinnati, it’s hard to believe Schwarber wouldn’t consider a homecoming of sorts with the Reds if they were so willing.

Considering the damage he’s inflicted on them, some of the comparisons to the cerebral Joey Votto, and their need for more offense, it’s hard to believe this isn’t at least a possibility. Schwarber could play left field at Great American Ball Park or DH if it’s available in the National League right in front of family and friends on a regular basis. Should this come to fruition, I wouldn’t even root against him when playing the Cubs.

Chicago Cubs: Now, this could be interesting…

Sign George Springer. Sign Kyle Schwarber. Get pitchers healthy and win a ton of games. Sounds like a blueprint for possible success next season for the New York Metropolitans.

With a new owner who definitely is not cash-strapped when everyone else seems to be, watch out for some major moves coming out Flushing. Not that they’ll need to break the bank for the lefty slugger, Schwarber, but if there is a DH in the National League, this is as sensible a fit as any. A .367/.444/.700 career slash line at Citi Field doesn’t hurt that sense either.

Schwarber has already shown the Mets faithful he can mash, but a change to Queens would be a whole different story. Schwarber could play left field if it’s open, he could DH if that happens in the NL, and everyone already knows he can handle the bright lights of the Big Apple and the postseason. If the Mets are willing and able, several offseason signings and a trip to the postseason isn’t out of the question for New York.

I could also see the Padres, Nationals, Dodgers, or several AL contenders vie for his services, but time will only tell where one of the most lovable Cubs ends up.

Granted, there are many possible suitors and options for Schwarber this offseason; I just hope it won’t come back to bite the Cubs this year or beyond. This guy’s contributions on and off the field and his part in breaking the curse in 2016 will never be forgotten – nor should it.