Kyle Schwarber is staying in the National League, but will be taking his talents to Washington in 2021.
After a few twists and turns, Kyle Schwarber has decided where he will play ball in 2021.
The former Chicago Cubs outfielder will be staying in the National League, but will be taking his talents to the NL East, donning a Washington Nationals uniform.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Nationals and Schwarber have agreed to a $10 million deal.
“Outfielder Kyle Schwarber and the Washington Nationals are in agreement on a one-year, $10 million deal, sources familiar with the situation tell ESPN,” Passan reported on Saturday.
What’s notable about this, beyond the fact that Schwarber is in. New uniform and one of the core members of the Cubs World Series team is now gone, is that we don’t know what the plan is for the DH in the National League.
MLB has yet to make an official ruling on whether designated hitters will be used in 2021, which would add even more value to Schwarber joining the Nationals.
The deal is a true win-win for the Nationals and Schwarber. Washington gets a power hitting outfielder to add to an already loaded lineup of stars. On any given day, Nationals manager Dave Martinez can turn in a lineup card that has Trea Turner, Schwarber, and Juan Soto in the batting order. Add to that Josh Bell, who the Nationals acquired in a surprise Christmas trade with the Pirates.
For Schwarber, the $10 million offer was a no-brainer. It’s a ton of money for the Nationals to hand out, and it’s a one-year deal which means he can flex his power in 2021 before hitting the market again next winter.
A year removed from winning the World Series, it’s clear the Nationals are not going to go the route of Scwarber’s former team and squander a chance to win more titles. With Cy Young caliber pitching getting run support from some of the best hitters in the game, the Nationals seem ready to make another World Series run and the rest of the league had better take notice.