Kyle Schwarber had conversations with the Yankees early in the free agency process, but those conversations never progressed before the former Cubs outsider signed on Saturday with the Washington Nationals.
Schwarber, who was not bid on by Chicago in December, signed a $ 10 million one-year contract with the Nats.
“I think there was some interest there, there were some lectures at the beginning, just checking, things like that, seeing where I was. But nothing really worked out there, ”said Schwarber when asked about the Yankees in a Zoom conference call. “Obviously, the Yankees are the Yankees, and it would have been fun to hear what would have happened there and see if anything could have happened. But it didn’t happen, and I’m very happy where I am. “
Schwarber called Washington “first place on my list” and his “first choice”, meeting with manager Dave Martinez, a former Cubs bank technician.
Leftist Schwarber hit just 0.188 with 0.701 OPS in 59 games for the Cubs in the 2020 season shortened by COVID, but hit 11 home runs in 191 on the bat. He averaged 31 homers in the previous three seasons, including 38 with 92 RBIs in 2019.
“There is definitely a problem with the previous situation. It is not always ideal not to be hired, ”said Schwarber, 27. “I know that I am a much better baseball player than I showed in 2020.”
General manager Brian Cashman said last month that Schwarber is a “fantastic” hitter, but he did not fit the Yankees due to the presence of Stanton de Giancarlo as the team’s top designated hitter.
“He’s a threat on the plate – discipline on the plate with power. Clearly, we expect him to do damage at Yankee Stadium, whether he’s wearing an opponent’s uniform or our uniform, ”Cashman said of Schwarber on December 16 at WFAN. “But I would say that it is a safer bet to make Giancarlo Stanton remain mainly in the role of DH just because of his health history.
“We had trouble keeping him on the pitch and we saw, when he’s playing, he’s a big threat and an impact player … I think limiting him to a HD role, I think I’m becoming more resigned to it, it’s best way to be served, making sure we have his impact consistently. “