Red Sox trade for Schwarber starting to make sense
D.J. Short examines the Boston Red Sox's trade for OF Kyle Schwarber and how he may play a key role as the team looks to grab a playoff spot in the coming weeks.
Video Transcript
DJ SHORT: While it was overshadowed a bit with the Nationals trading Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers, the club also traded Kyle Schwarber to the Red Sox before the July 30 trade deadline. Now, it was a bit of an odd fit on the surface, not just because Schwarber was hurt with the hamstring injury, but also because there wasn't an obvious place for him in the Red Sox lineup. However, with Schwarber's power potential, the Red Sox are willing to be flexible.
Remember, Schwarber launched 16 home runs in the span of 18 games in June. Schwarber has been eased into the lineup as the designated hitter so far, but the plan is to use them in left field while showing him the ropes at first base. Now, the player who could very well be hurt the most in this situation is youngster Jarren Duran, as JD Martinez and Schwarber trade spots between the outfield and the DH spot. Duran is no doubt a promising young player, but as of Wednesday, August 18, he was hitting just .222 with a 32 to 2 strikeout to walk ratio through 81 plate appearances in the Majors. The Red Sox are playing for right now and they need Schwarber's bat, so Schwarber might actually make more sense than he did here originally.