Cubs: David Ross spins loss of Kyle Schwarber into a positive

While Kyle Schwarber’s days with the Cubs may be over, David Ross still wished him the best.

Schwarber’s exit with the Cubs was as ceremonious as they come. The team has wished him the best in his future endeavours, and even left the door open for a potential reunion at the right price. Nonetheless, it has to sting for Schwarber — once a prized prospect and All-Star in the making — to be eschewed by a club that once thought so highly of him.

Yet, that decision isn’t all on Schwarber’s production. Yes, his 2020 season was bad, but most Cubs sluggers suffered unprecedented slumps. Schwarber’s line of .188/.308/.393 was abysmal. The Cubs were right not to pay him the estimated millions it would’ve taken to keep him on the North Side, as that’s not what Schwarber is worth on the free agent market.

How realistic is a Cubs reunion? And will Ross’ comments hold any weight?

“Sometimes that smack in the face is a real game-changer for you as a player,” Ross said in his virtual Winter Meetings press conference. “And I can speak from experience; it happened to me a lot, and I ended up in some really good positions.”

It’s true. Ross was journeyman catcher who never found a true home until he won a World Series with the Cubs in 2016. Now, he’s managing the team he forged a bond with at the tail end of his career.

“We all love Kyle and what he’s done here for the Cubs and would welcome him back with open arms,” Ross said. “But I have a feeling there’s going to be a lot of teams picking up the phone to call his agent.”

He’s right, you know. Schwarber will get plenty of interest on the open market, especially if his price comes down by a reasonable margin. It remains to be seen if the Cubs will be among the teams interested.