Former Chicago Cubs star Kyle Schwarber is on the move. As first reported by Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post, the 27-year old has signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals.
Source: The Nationals have signed Kyle Schwarber to a one-year deal pending a physical.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) January 9, 2021
Jeff Passan of ESPN adds that the deal is worth $10-million.
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
The deal has technically not gone through just yet as Schwarber reportedly needs to clear a physical. Chicago non-tendered the 6-year veteran in early December.
Schwarber had a major drop-off in the 2020 season, where he drew splits of .188/.308/.393, along with 11 home runs and 24 RBI's. In the prior three seasons, Schwarber hit at .234/.337/.442 in 421 games. He also tallied 94 home runs and 212 RBI's throughout that span.
Schwarber seemed to have found his stride from the 2017 season to the 2019 season, but lost his footing this past year. Nonetheless, he should get a fresh start with the Nationals after a disappointing 2020 campaign.
Just like Schwarber, Washington will also look to bounce back from an underwhelming season. After winning the World Series in 2019, the Nationals won just 26 of 60 games and missed the postseason entirely.
Washington certainly hopes that Schwarber will return to the form that he had in the previous three years so that he can help revive the franchise back into playoff contention. Schwarber's arrival will likely make Juan Soto's move to right field permanent, as the Nationals made the adjustment late in the 2020 season. Meanwhile, the Middletown, Ohio native should play left field in the nation's capital.
The Nationals may not be done making moves just yet. Prior to signing Schwarber, they already swung a trade to bring in Josh Bell.
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