Red Sox acquire Kyle Schwarber from Nationals
With the MLB trade deadline approaching its stretch run, and with the options flying off the shelves, Chaim Bloom and the Red Sox have finally struck, acquiring Kyle Schwarber from the Nationals.
MLB insider The Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a deal to acquire Kyle Schwarber from the Washington Nationals, according to sources familiar with the situation.
A left-handed hitting outfielder, Schwarber comes to the Red Sox in the midst of a 2021 campaign that’s come with 25 homers, 53 RBIs, and a .253 average through 72 games with the Nationals.
Prior to his 2021 with Washington, the 28-year-old Schwarber spent six seasons with the Chicago Cubs, and hammered a career-high 38 home runs and 92 RBIs with the North Side in 2019. Schwarber was also part of the 2016 Chicago team that ended the franchise’s 108-year World Series drought, and comes to the Red Sox with a .364 average, along with five blasts and 10 RBIs, in 14 career playoff games.
It’s worth noting that Schwarber has spent the last five years playing left field exclusively (Schwarber split time between catcher and left field in 2015), and that his acquisition does not directly address the team’s need at first base. But the Red Sox appear to have an interest in trying to convert Schwarber to first base, according to the Boston Globe’s Alex Speier.
Sounds like Sox are open to seeing how Schwarber can handle 1B (he’s never played there in the big leagues), but can also cycle him into the OF and at DH.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) July 30, 2021
In a one-for-one deal, the Red Sox will send pitching prospect Aldo Ramirez to the Nats in exchange for Schwarber. Ramirez was the No. 19 ranked prospect in the Boston pipeline (per MLB Pipeline).
Boston’s move for Schwarber came just hours after the Yankees acquired Schwarber’s ex-teammate, Anthony Rizzo, from the Yankees, and on the heels of a 13-1 loss to the Blue Jays at Fenway Park.
Schwarber will not be immediately available to the Red Sox, however, as he is currently dealing with a right hamstring strain that’s kept him out of action since the beginning of July.
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