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MLB: Which teams should try to trade for Kyle Schwarber?

By Joshua Sadlock

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 24: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubsfollows the flight of his solo home run in the 1st inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on May 24, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 24: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubsfollows the flight of his solo home run in the 1st inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on May 24, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 28: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 28, 2019 in New York City. The Cubs defeated the Mets 10-7. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 28: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 28, 2019 in New York City. The Cubs defeated the Mets 10-7. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

2. New York Yankees

The Yankees are expected to focus almost all of their offseason resources and effort on landing an ace – either Gerrit Cole, Zack Wheeler or Stephen Strasburg. Filling that top spot in their rotation with a superstar who can take the pressure off Luis Severino is the biggest concern for Brian Cashman and his front office, but they will also be monitoring the trade market. The Yankees will no doubt be in touch with the Cleveland Indians about Francisco Lindor, but should also check in with the Cubs about Kyle Schwarber.

At first glance, it might appear the Yankees have no room in their star-studded lineup for Schwarber, but a team can always find room for a potential 45-homer bat. The Yankees hit 306 home runs and scored 943 runs last season, but could conceivably use Schwarber as their DH or left fielder. If he does land in the Bronx, Schwarber would likely rotate at left field and DH with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge.

Related Story. Five young prospects the Cubs could trade for. light

It’s almost too easy to picture Schwarber lofting long fly balls over the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium. He has hit .253/.363/.522 with 54 home runs and 224 RBI in 242 career games at Wrigley Field. Those numbers would get a noticeable boost at Yankee Stadium, where previously light-hitting shortstop Didi Gregorius morphed into a 30-homer threat and received MVP votes.

To acquire Schwarber, the Yankees may have to part with Clint Frazier or Miguel Andujar, but neither has exactly played their way into a permanent starting role in New York. Frazier and Andujar both possess explosive bats but lack defensive polish. Neither has reached their full potential as a hitter. Andujar hit 47 doubles and 27 home runs as a rookie before missing most of 2019 with a shoulder injury, while Frazier was hitting .283/.330/.513 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI through the middle of June before the Yankees grew tired of waiting for him to prove he could handle playing defense at the MLB level.

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