The Boston Red Sox's second half sans Rafael Devers and their early playoff exit revealed just how badly they need a spark in their lineup to succeed in 2026. A reunion with National League MVP candidate and NL home run leader Kyle Schwarber could be in the cards.
Chris Cotillo of MassLive reports that the Red Sox "love" Schwarber, and they're expected to show "real interest" in the slugger if he doesn't quickly reunite with his team from the last four seasons. This comes as thrilling news for Red Sox fans, who also loved Schwarber during his brief tenure with the team during its 2021 run to the ALCS.
There are a fair few obstacles in the way of a potential return to Boston for Schwarber, though, all on the Sox's end. Schwarber, 32, has been primarily a designated hitter for the last two seasons, and he's thrived in that position. He's slashed .244/.365/.525 with an .890 OPS, 45 doubles, 95 homers, 236 RBI and he's accumulated 8.2 bWAR over 312 games between the two seasons. Boston likes to keep its DH spot flexible, but Schwarber is an ideal fit for an everyday DH job.
Masataka Yoshida has held down the Sox's DH spot in the post-Devers era, but he doesn't bring much power to the position. Cotillo theorizes that Yoshida will be playing elsewhere by Opening Day 2026, whether the Red Sox trade him or designate him for assignment. If they can't trade him, his $18 million salary will be a "sunk cost" and a potential boundary in front of a potential Schwarber signing.
Red Sox may have to make some risky moves to reunite with Kyle Schwarber
Given Yoshida's frequent injuries and pricey contract relative to his production in the major leagues, Boston will probably have to eat a significant amount of his contract money to entice another team into a trade. The Red Sox have been reluctant to do such things in the past, as evidenced by their pitiful return in the Devers trade in exchange for the Giants eating his entire contract.
Cotillo also mentioned trading an outfielder as a way to make room for Schwarber. Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela are all talented enough to warrant regular playing time in the big leagues, and with Roman Anthony entering the mix for his first full season as Boston's star outfielder, a trade seems imminent. It doesn't make sense to platoon perfectly capable outfielders when they could be used as a trade candidate, and when they could need reps in the DH spot that could be occupied by Schwarber full-time.
A reunion with Schwarber makes sense for the Red Sox, who are in desperate need of a power punch in their lineup, but the Phillies aren't the only hurdle between them and the DH. Schwarber is an obvious upgrade for a team looking to grow into a serious contender, and Boston should make all of the moves necessary — potentially including a few uncomfortable trades — to bring him in.