Cubs

Kyle Schwarber Signs One-Year Deal With Nationals

The former Cubs’ outfielder has signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals.

by
Pat Boadway
January 9, 2021

Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, former Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber has signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Washington Nationals.

Outfielder Kyle Schwarber and the Washington Nationals are in agreement on a one-year, $10 million deal, sources familiar with the situation tell ESPN. First with the deal: @dougherty_jesse.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 9, 2021

After the Cubs released the slugging outfielder, most fans wondered where he would end up. A big question mark within that conversation was whether or not MLB was going to adopt the universal designated hitter role for the future. That could have largely impacted where Kyle Schwarber landed considering his struggles in the outfield.

In his six seasons with the Cubs, Schwarber logged 121 home runs, 279 RBI, and posted a career slugging percentage of .480 all while missing the majority of the 2016 season. The Nationals are getting a big bat to bolster their lineup after a down year in 2020. Last season, Washington ranked tenth in runs per game (4.88), 21st in home-runs-per-game (1.10), and 19th in walks-per-game (3.20). A veteran slugger like Kyle Schwarber should improve those numbers for the Nationals in 2021.

Cubs fans are definitely sad to see him leave town but were lucky to enjoy his successes, albeit in inconsistent increments. After the Cubs cut ties with Kyle Schwarber and traded away Yu Darvish, it became abundantly clear that their rebuild was in full force.