Kyle from Waltham is leaving the Red Sox
Former Boston Red Sox outfielder, Kyle Schwarber, has penned a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, per Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Phillies have an agreement with Kyle Schwarber, pending all the usual stuff
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS) March 16, 2022
Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports that it’s a four-year deal with an average annual value of just under $20 million.
Wow. This is disheartening because there aren’t many Red Sox fans that didn’t want him back. He was, arguably, the only free agent that the majority of Sox fans could agree on signing.
I can’t remember a player who had such a short stint with a team that made such an impact on the fan base. He only played 41 games this past season and Red Sox fans treated him like a seasoned veteran with the team.
After acquiring him, I will be honest, I was skeptical. We traded for him while he was injured, and missed games with the Sox at the beginning of his tenure knowing that his contract was up at the end of the season. He did in fact prove me wrong. Schwarber slashed .291/.435/.522 with seven jacks with the Red Sox and brought a voice with him into the clubhouse.
We brought him in with the intention of placing him at first base, a position that he had never played before, but he split time between the outfield, first base, and DH.
The crown moment of Schwarber’s tenure in Boston is surely the play at first base in Game 3 of the ALDS. After making as bad of an error that you can make, he made up for it by making a similar play, and got a standing ovation from the Fenway faithful, which is no easy feat.
Schwarber’s departure is bad for morale and it also creates a dilemma for Chaim Bloom. We need someone who can take over his spot in the lineup, and with the free agent market getting progressively more scarce, a move needs to be made now more than ever.
The bright side is that it shouldn’t be hard to replace Schwarber’s talent because of his versatility. The Red Sox have expressed interest in Freddie Freeman and I could see him as a worthy replacement of Schwarber in the lineup.
The Red Sox could also find a replacement internally. They have an absolutely loaded farm system, and there is so much talent to pick from. Triston Casas seems to be the favorite to make his was up and take first base over for good, which is my favorite scenario.
All in all, speaking on behalf of Red Sox fans, thank you, Kyle Schwarber for an amazing 41 games that will never be forgotten. Kyle from Waltham forever.