Kyle Schwarber’s future with the Red Sox looks a lot less certain
Kyle Schwarber may end up back with the Red Sox, but it wouldnt be for the contract that was on the table.
According to a new report from the Associated Press, Schwarber is one of numerous players who declined their mutual options for 2022. Schwarber’s mutual option was for $11.5 million. He will now test free agency.
The Washington Nationals signed Schwarber to a one-year deal in January, then ultimately traded him to the Red Sox just before the July deadline. Schwarber batted .291 with a .957 OPS and smacked seven home runs in 41 regular season games with the Red Sox. In the postseason, his OPS plummeted to .718, but he hit three more home runs in 11 games.
The level of interest between Schwarber and the Red Sox on a return is unclear at this point. But it looks like it’ll cost Boston more than $11.5 million annually.
Elsewhere in the AL East, the Yankees mutually declined the option with a pair of veterans, outfielder Brett Gardner and reliever Darren O’Day. Gardner, 38, has played his entire 14-year career in the Bronx.
The Red Sox may have a redundancy in their lineup between Schwarber and J.D. Martinez, as both of them are best suited playing designated hitter and avoiding the field as much as possible. Ken Rosenthal recently said on his podcast for The Athletic that he expects Martinez to also opt out and explore the open market.
But it would also be a tough blow for Boston if they ended up losing both. It’ll be interesting to see who they pursue to fill the DH spot for 2022 and beyond.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at [email protected].
