The Chicago Cubs have just announced their decision to non-tender outfielder Kyle Schwarber. This took place on Wednesday, well ahead of the deadline to make a decision on arbitration-eligible players, making the former World Series star a free agent.
Schwarber was a big part of the Cubs over the past five and a half seasons as a slugging outfielder. Selected by Chicago with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, it was on their team that he made a name for himself.
The Ohio native slugged 121 home runs in 551 games throughout his Cubs career, batting .230 but maintaining a decent .336 on-base percentage. Despite his defensive warts and his elevated strikeout rates, his power-hitting ability made him one of the strongest members of the Cubs’ lineup.
However, after a 2020 season which saw him bat only .188 and post the worst offensive numbers of his career, the Cubs simply decided that the projected $8 million salary he was set to earn in arbitration was not worth paying.
Schwarber thus becomes a free agent and is eligible to negotiate a contract with any team in the league. He should be a popular candidate for teams, especially AL clubs that are looking for someone to occupy the designated hitter role.
The Cubs will now look to top prospect Nico Hoerner, along with Ian Happ and Jason Heyward, to fill the hole left by Schwarber in the upcoming season.
