Here’s the only way Kyle Schwarber would be a free agency fit for the Yankees

The Yankees can only fit Kyle Schwarber into their plans if they make this move … and it might not even be smart.

Ever since Kyle Schwarber was inexplicably non-tendered by the Chicago Cubs, so many Yankees fans have been calling for general manager Brian Cashman to bring the lefty slugger to New York. But there are many problems with that. We can’t keep cramming the roster with designated hitters and defensive liabilities, folks!

Schwarber, though a tremendous hitter and a dangerous presence if he’s playing 81 games at Yankee Stadium, is hardly a fit for the Yankees. Where do you put him if he’s signed? The Bombers already have a starting outfield. Schwarber no longer plays catcher. He’s played one career game at first base.

On top of that, the man is going to want regular playing time if he’s trying to rebuild his value after a disastrous shortened 2020 that saw the Cubs plummet as a result. Schwarber was one of the casualties whose poor performance was unfairly judged simply because he had a large arbitration figure attached to him in his final year of eligibility.

Schwarber has long been a fit for the Yankees, but not in 2021. Now, the designated hitter spot will be occupied by Giancarlo Stanton on a full-time basis as long as he’s healthy — and that will be the case for the next seven years. Schwarber’s now-primary position (left field) is occupied by Clint Frazier, whose tremendous play in 2020 earned him the starting role.

Some have suggested trying Schwarber out at first base (a position he’s never played), but that’s Luke Voit’s post and, like we said, signing the former Cub as a bench option or insurance policy in the event someone gets injured (or a platoon option) won’t fly with him as a pitch. He’s going to want to start. And we’re not trading Voit, so stop it.

The only option to make move for Schwarber is to trade Frazier, likely for a pitcher who can help deepen the starting rotation behind Gerrit Cole. At this point, that’s the only sensible move (if you want to call it that).

But do the Yankees really want to replace Frazier with Schwarber? Frazier is a much more cost-effective option, has a way better average than Schwarber, delivers in clutch situations, and has vastly improved his defense. Sure, if there’s an offer on the table that lands the Yankees a No. 2-caliber starter, then yeah, do it and then sign Schwarber.

Otherwise, there’s no use trying to squeeze in the former Cubs slugger when there’s clearly no fit. The Yankees could use a lefty bat without a doubt, but it’d be ideal if that lefty bat were a contact one — not another of the home-run-or-strikeout variation. And even if platooning was an option, we doubt the Yankees would want a subpar defender as their fourth option in the outfield, regardless of how potent his bat is.

We’re sorry. The time has passed to make this move, and the only way to make it now it by pulling off somewhat of a blockbuster deal that fills a need elsewhere … and there’s been no talk of that up until this point in the offseason.

Yankees: These three FA options are better fits than Kyle Schwarber

The New York Yankees could go with recently non-tendered Kyle Schwarber in free agency, but there are three better fits for the roster.