3 offseason trades the Cubs need to make after playoff exit

2. Get rid of Kyle Schwarber

We’re in year six of Schwarber’s tenure with the Cubs, and we’re still waiting on him to make the leap from solid if inconsistent slugger to lineup cornerstone who can help right the team’s ship after a string of poor results. Yes, he hit 38 home runs in 2019. However, he hit just .188 this year and got on base just 31 percent of the time. For a player who not only gives you nothing on defense but is, in many cases, extremely detrimental in left field, a change of scenery might be best for both parties.

Schwarber was born to be a designated hitter but had the misfortune of being drafted by an NL team. In the modern MLB, there is no such thing as too much power. Schwarber, who is 27 and is under team control for two more seasons, could fetch quite a price if the Cubs can find an AL contender desperate enough for a player with his unique profile. Unfortunately, however, his defensive liabilities and poor 2020 could make it hard for the Cubs to get a king’s ransom for a player they once held in high regard.