An offseason of change has started for the Chicago Cubs, and Jed Hoyer should trade these three players now that he’s in charge.
The Chicago Cubs are heading into an offseason of change, and it’s starting. On Tuesday morning, Theo Epstein announced he is stepping down as team president. General manager Jed Hoyer will take over the role.
Epstein was close to an exit from the Cubs, with his contract up after 2021. Past talk of offseason maneuvering has not borne much, but the core of the curse-breaking 2016 World Series champions is set to be broken up this offseason as free agency looms for some key players.
Hoyer has plenty of experience, going back to being assistant GM under Epstein with the Boston Red Sox from 2002-2009. He has been with the Cubs since 2011 as Executive VP and General Manager. Now he has full reign over the baseball operation on the South Side, ahead of some significant decisions that may stretch into the 2021 trade deadline.
Now that Hoyer is calling the shots, these three Cubs’ players may be as good as gone.
3,
Kyle Schwarber
OF, Chicago Cubs
Like most of his teammates, Schwarber had a down year at the plate in 2020 (.188/.308/.393, 11 home runs, 24 RBI, 88 OPS+). A unique short season is an easy crutch there. But Schwarber had his best season in 2019 (38 home runs, 92 RBI, .871 OPS, 122 OPS+), 2018 was also excellent below the surface (117 OPS+, 26 home runs) and he hit 30 home runs in 2017.
Schwarber is not an abject disaster in left field (-3 Defensive Runs Saved each of the last two seasons). Inside Edge data that goes a little deeper shows he makes the plays he’s supposed to. Moving off catcher as a very young player stands to lengthen his career.
The prospect of the universal DH widens the possible number of trade suitors for Schwarber. But he is a prime trade candidate no matter what, entering his final year of arbitration eligibility. Plenty of teams will buy into a rebound with the bat in 2021, and deal with shortcomings in left field and/or a possible contract extension later.