The Chicago Cubs plan on calling up catcher Kyle Schwarber this week. He’s part of the youth movement that the Cubs are hoping will make the future a little brighter.
When he gets another stint in the Major Leagues, should fantasy baseball owners pick him up?
He’s rarely owned in fantasy baseball leagues so finding him on the waiver wire won’t be a problem. The biggest issue is if you can trust that he could become an everyday player by next month and put up the kind of numbers he did during his first stint in Major League Baseball this year.
He likely won’t be the starting catcher when he gets called up this week, but that shouldn’t deter fantasy baseball owners if they believe he can make a move up the depth chart by August. During his first trip up with the Cubs, he played in 22 games and registered a .364 batting average.
By adding six runs and RBIs apiece, and one home run, he became an interesting topic when the Cubs sent him back down to Triple-A to make more room on the big league club’s roster.
Now he’s back and fantasy baseball owners should consider him for the future. If you’re owning a team in a futures league, then he’s a sure bet and should be owned now. However, it’s those fantasy baseball owners who have to get ready for a playoff run that will face the most difficult decision.
Catcher isn’t a position where many players put up big numbers. San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey is the poster boy for catchers with a .314 batting average, 58 RBIs and 14 homers. Other than Posey, no everyday catcher is batting over .300.
Owning Schwarber is all about the position he plays. He’s a gamble, but he could pay off in the long run if he’s able to sit on your bench for a few weeks while you watch his development. Take a look at your roster and see if you can wait out a few weeks with a player on your bench who doesn’t contribute much. If you can, he’s worth owning.
