Kyle Schwarber posts heartfelt farewell to Chicago Cubs fans

Kyle Schwarber said his farewell to Cubs fans after six memorable seasons.

Jed Hoyer needed to shake the snowglobe up a bit if he wants to get the Chicago Cubs back in the postseason picture, and one of the moves he thought could take this team over the top was getting rid Kyle Schwarber, who provided thunderous power from the left side. Ultimately, his poor defense and inconsistent bat were the final nails in his coffin, and his time as a Cub is over.

Schwarber announced his departure from Chicago on Twitter, posting a message thanking the fans and organization that gave him his first chance in the pros and his first taste of World Series glory.

Kyle Schwarber can still provide power, but he became a bit of a one-trick pony

Schwarber, who was picked fourth overall in the 2014 MLB Draft, hit 121 home runs in six seasons with the team, including 94 in three seasons between 2017 and 2019. Schwarber’s problem over the years has been defense, as the Cubs have tried to plug a square peg into a round hole by sticking him in left field to accommodate Willson Contreras.

Schwarber’s power is still there, even if his batting average isn’t all the time, and that ability to put the ball in the seats will get him some attention in the free-agent market, especially among American League teams that could stick him at DH and not worry about his defense.

Cubs fans might not like to see him go, but this move had to happen. Schwarber won’t be out of work for long, as plenty of AL teams who need some extra juice in the heart of the order could pick him up on a cheap deal and reap the benefits of his 30 home run per season power.