Cubs’ Decision to Let Kyle Schwarber Walk Was a Mistake

This article takes another look at the Chicago Cubs’ 2020 decision to not tender Kyle Schwarber. It digs into the immediate fallout and explores how Schwarber’s career since leaving Chicago has shaped the story around Jed Hoyer’s front-office move.

Schwarber’s tough 2020 season gets compared with his MVP-level production in the years that followed. Everything seemed to come full circle during a wild night against his old team.

The 2020 decision: what happened and why it mattered

Jed Hoyer had just taken over as Cubs president of baseball operations. His first big call? Deciding whether to keep Kyle Schwarber around.

Schwarber’s 2020 line was rough: .188/.308/.393 with 11 homers and 66 strikeouts in 59 games. He managed just 0.1 WAR and had a pretty high whiff rate that year.

The Cubs let him go in December 2020. Schwarber signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Washington Nationals the next month.

Looking back, a lot of folks point to this as one of the Cubs’ most glaring missteps, especially considering what Schwarber did after leaving Chicago.

Over the next five seasons—especially with the Phillies—Schwarber turned into an MVP-caliber hitter. He finished runner-up for NL MVP last year and crushed 45+ homers in three of the last four seasons.

Recently, against his old club, Schwarber smashed two homers (414 and 417 feet), went 2-for-3, and drove in three runs. He scored four times. That night really underlined the kind of impact he can have when he’s locked in.

The case for re-signing Schwarber at a reasonable price seemed obvious. The Cubs could’ve kept a middle-of-the-lineup bat without spending big.

People argued that $8–$10 million was a smart bet for someone with Schwarber’s power. For a team juggling budgets and looking for upside, the numbers made sense.

Schwarber’s ascent since departing Chicago

Once he left the Cubs, Schwarber kept hitting for power and stayed in the MVP conversation, even while bouncing between teams. Here’s what stands out:

• Second in NL MVP voting in the most recent season. That’s a pretty clear signal his value is still elite.
• 45+ home runs in three of four seasons, including his Phillies run. He’s been healthy and powerful just about everywhere.
• That recent two-homer game against the Cubs—distances of 414 and 417 feet—plus a 2-for-3 night with four runs and three RBI. He’s still got a little something extra when facing his old team, doesn’t he?

For Cubs fans, it’s tough to watch. Schwarber became a perennial threat elsewhere, while the front office missed a chance to lock in future upside for a pretty reasonable investment.

The cost of keeping Schwarber and the Cubs’ missed opportunity

Analysts and fans argued that keeping Schwarber would’ve cost about $8–$10 million for one season. Compared to the value he’s produced since, that’s almost a bargain.

The Cubs’ choice to let him walk, maybe understandable given the budget talk at the time, looks more painful now. Schwarber’s continued power and postseason-ready bat highlight what the team lost.

• People often point to this as an example of late-stage budget worries outweighing short-term gains.
• Schwarber’s impact on other teams just makes the missed opportunity sting more. He could’ve been the reliable power bat the Cubs needed in a pennant race.
• This whole episode still shapes how folks talk about the Cubs’ risk tolerance and talent evaluation, especially when it comes to players with big power but recent slumps or injuries.

What this means for the Cubs moving forward

Schwarber keeps thriving in playoff-caliber environments. Meanwhile, the Cubs have to weigh the lessons of 2020 against a competitive landscape that never seems to stand still.

This whole saga just reminds us that strategic flexibility—balancing contract cost against proven upside—matters a lot in modern baseball. Even now, people still bring up the Schwarber decision in coffee shops and boardrooms as a kind of cautionary tale about missing out on solid returns from versatile sluggers.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Cubs’ Decision To Let Kyle Schwarber Walk Remains A Massive Mistake