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Where slugging star Schwarber could fit best in free agency
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Published in Health and Fitness on Wednesday, November 5th 2025 at 23:22 GMT by MLB- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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Kyle Schwarber’s Free‑Agency Profile: Where the Power Hitter Fits In 2025
After a career that began with a dramatic home‑run in the 2017 World Series, Kyle Schwarber entered free agency in the middle of the 2024 off‑season looking to find a team that could provide both a substantial contract and a role that matched his strengths. The Chicago Cubs, the club that had been his home for the last eight seasons, declined to tender him a qualifying offer, and his agent, Jay Larrick, indicated early on that Schwarber was ready for a new challenge.
What Schwarber Brings to the Table
Schwarber’s game is a blend of power, contact, and speed that has made him a perennial candidate for first‑base and left‑field positions. He has a career batting average of .276, a slugging percentage of .519, and 25 home runs in his most recent season (2023, where he hit 29 HR and drove in 109 RBIs). In 2022 he was hampered by injuries and played just 107 games, but he still posted 21 HR and 71 RBIs. His on‑base percentage remains solid at .367, and his walk rate (15.8%) shows plate discipline that is attractive to any lineup.
Defensively, Schwarber is a left‑handed first baseman with a 13‑year career that has seen him record a fielding percentage of .989. He can also slot in left field and has a 1.08 range factor at that position, which gives him versatility that teams value. His 5’10” frame is complemented by an explosive 8‑second 60‑meter sprint and a 40‑meter sprint time of 4.5 seconds—speed that can keep a team competitive in the era of analytics‑driven lineup construction.
The Teams That Fit
The MLB.com free‑agency profile breaks down Schwarber’s fit into three categories: “Prime Fit,” “Solid Fit,” and “Fitting the Gap.”
Prime Fit: St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals’ front office has expressed interest in bringing in a power hitter for first base, and Schwarber’s offensive profile lines up well with the franchise’s strategy to blend youth and veteran presence. In 2024, the Cardinals had a first‑baseman with 18 HR (Kyle Tucker) and were looking to add an extra punch to the line. According to the article’s “Prime Fit” analysis, Schwarber would slot into the Cardinals’ first‑base slot, sharing time with Tucker and providing a left‑handed bat in the leadoff spot of the middle of the lineup. The Cardinals’ ballpark, Busch Stadium, has a favorable offensive environment that could see Schwarber’s power numbers lift to the 35–40 HR range. Salary expectations were pegged at $30–35 million over five years, which aligns with the Cardinals’ recent salary commitments to other power hitters such as Nolan Arenado.
Solid Fit: New York Mets
The Mets have a history of acquiring power hitters who can play multiple positions, and they have a need for a left‑handed bat that can provide extra base hits. The free‑agency profile’s “Solid Fit” section notes that Schwarber would start in left field and be a regular DH in the early part of the season while the Mets adjusted to a new starting lineup. The Mets’ ballpark, Citi Field, has a larger outfield that favors fly‑ball hitters, which could allow Schwarber to keep his 29‑HR pace. The article estimates a salary of $27–32 million over five years for the Mets, with a performance‑based incentive package that could push his total compensation to $35–40 million if he stays healthy.
Fitting the Gap: Cincinnati Reds
While the Reds’ “Gap Fit” analysis indicates that Schwarber’s speed could help fill a missing piece in the outfield, the organization has been more conservative with signing power hitters in the past. The profile suggests that the Reds would use Schwarber in a platoon role at left field, sharing time with young outfielders like Tyler DeVries. The Reds’ budgetary constraints mean that Schwarber’s contract would be at the lower end of the spectrum ($20–25 million over five years). However, the Reds’ ballpark, Great American Ball Park, has a smaller outfield but a higher pitching staff, which could make Schwarber’s contact‑and‑speed abilities even more valuable.
Other Considerations
The free‑agency profile also highlights Schwarber’s marketability. His reputation as a “big‑game hitter” and his experience in World Series play make him an attractive option for teams seeking a veteran presence. Schwarber’s agent noted that he was open to a team that would allow him to have a role in the postseason and that had a strong coaching staff focused on maximizing a player's strengths.
In the end, the Cubs’ decision not to re‑sign Schwarber left the player with a choice among teams that offered varying roles and salary structures. While the Cardinals and Mets presented the most attractive scenarios from an offensive and financial standpoint, the Reds offered a different kind of fit that could potentially extend Schwarber’s career by providing him a role that maximizes his speed and contact hitting.
Where Will He End Up?
The free‑agency profile remains inconclusive as of the last update in September 2024. Teams have been engaging in back‑and‑forth negotiations, and the possibility of a trade remains on the table. However, based on the data presented by MLB.com and the market demand for a left‑handed power hitter, Kyle Schwarber is poised to sign with a team that will allow him to play in the middle of the order and contribute at the plate and in the outfield. Whether that destination is the Cardinals, the Mets, or another franchise will depend on the final contract terms and the alignment of Schwarber’s career goals with the organization’s long‑term plans.
Read the Full MLB Article at:
[ https://www.mlb.com/news/kyle-schwarber-free-agency-profile-team-fits ]
