Kyle Schwarber

Position: OF/DH
Bats/Throws: L/R
Age: 28 (3/5/1993)

Traditional Stats: (113 G) .266/.374/.554, .928 OPS, 19 2B, 32 HR, 71 RBI
Advanced Stats: 148 OPS+, 3.2 WAR, 13.2 BB%., 27.0 K%, 145 wRC+
Defensive Stats: -5 DRS (OF), -4 DRS (1B), -3.4 UZR

Rundown

If there’s one player in free agency that the New York Mets are very familiar with, it’s certainly slugging outfielder Kyle Schwarber.

Following a poor pandemic shortened season in which he hit just 11 homers and struck out 66 times over 59 games, Schwarber was non-tendered by the Chicago Cubs and was headed to free agency for the first time in his career.

Looking to add some pop from the left-handed side of the dish, the Washington Nationals inked him to a one-year deal with a mutual option for the 2022 season worth $11.5 million.

Schwarber rewarded them for taking the chance, as he bounced back in a big way in a Nats uniform. He enjoyed tremendous success, and despite missing about a month due to injury was named to his first career All-Star team. 

Schwarber especially loved facing Mets pitching as he went on a historic stretch, hitting nine home runs and posting a 1.158 OPS in ten games against New York. While this was an incredible run, the Mets weren’t the only team the slugger produced against.

Even with the missed time due to the hamstring issue, overall Schwarber hit 32 homers, had 19 doubles, and posted a .374 on-base percentage, and a .928 OPS in 113 games.

According to Baseball Savant, he finished the season in the top 80-90th percentile in all of the following stats; average exit velocity, max exit velocity, hard-hit percentage, xwOBA, xSLG, barrel percentage, chase rate, and even walk percentage.

With the Nationals buried in the National League East, Schwarber was sent to the contending Boston Red Sox at the trading deadline. He was quickly activated and stole the hearts of Red Sox fans, being praised as a “hometown hero.”

In 41 games with Boston, he hit .291 with a .957 OPS, .435 OBP, 154 OPS+, seven home runs, and ten doubles. He also cracked three home runs and drove in six runs hitting out of the leadoff spot during postseason play.

Prior to joining the Nationals, Schwarber spent his first six big league seasons with the Cubs. With his light-tower power and infectious personality, Schwarber was beloved by the fans in Chicago.

He made a historic return from a torn ACL in his left knee during the 2016 postseason run. Despite the expectation that he’d be out for the entire season, Schwarber recorded seven hits including a double, and drove in two runs during the World Series.

Schwarber is a big-time bat from the left side of the plate with a personality and playoff experience that would be valuable to any team that’s willing to spend the money. 

Contract

Speaking of money, after his monster 2021 season, Schwarber figures to be in for a pretty big payday. He’ll certainly receive more than the $11.5 million mutual option he declined on his latest deal.

Schwarber will certainly benefit on the open market from the fact that the designated hitter will likely be coming to the National League this season. Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac projects he’ll receive a two-year, $24 million deal this offseason.

Schwarber is represented by Excel Sports Management, which is based out of New York and has other clients including Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, George Springer, and Taijuan Walker amongst others.

Recommendation

There’s no denying Schwarber has some incredible power from the left-handed side of the batter’s box. He’s also proven that he’s not just an all-or-nothing player with his stellar 13.4% walk rate this past season.

Mets fans certainly saw his abilities on full display again, and again, and again throughout the 2021 season. First of all, if the Mets were to go out and sign Schwarber, he couldn’t continue his historic run as the newest member on the long list of Met-killers.

With that being said, I don’t really see him as a fit for this Mets team, especially when you look at how they are currently constructed.

Schwarber is a very below-average defender in the outfield. He also saw some time at first base while with Boston and was even worse. Even with the addition of the DH, there is really no spot for him in this lineup.

Schwarber seems like more of a fit to return to Boston, which he said following the season that he’d be crazy not to consider. I could also see him taking a long look at joining the Phillies and reuniting with former Nats hitting coach Kevin Long in Philadelphia.