Kyle Schwarber has been a focal point of trade discussions for years, practically from the time he debuted in 2015. He was discussed as a leading candidate to bring back Andrew Miller prior to the 2016 trade deadline, but a demotion to Iowa and inconsistent performance since has had many hoping the Cubs would move on from the World Series legend for much less.
Schwarber’s strong second half in 2019, over which time he was arguably the Cubs’ best hitter, might have created an opportunity to sell high. On the other hand, his improved production and relatively low cost might mean he’s a vital piece for a team that needs to compete without spending tons more money to do it.