Have just started the Cubs Way book. Theo talks about a concept where you need to have 4 "impact" players. Got three with Rizzo, Bryant, and Contreras. For the moment, not sure we've got the fourth?
Part-way through Schwarber chapter. Appears that Theo just loved the guy, so fired up because Schwarber used F-word in interview, and so enthusiastic about Schwarber's leadership potential. Theo's perspective was that Schwarber is/was an impact bat. Theo routinely references his Boston experiences; so talks about Schwarber as a Big Papi bat.
Some hyperbole, and Schwarber isn't likely to reproduce Ortiz's offense, or Rizzo's. But Ortiz had a .234 season with Twins; Rizzo hit .141 for Padres, and then .233 in his second year in Chicago.
So I suspect Theo's still pretty reluctant to trade Schwarber, and will hope that like Ortiz and Rizzo, that Kyle will be able to make some adjustments. Perhaps blossom into a guy who might be able to support and sustain a .250 batting average in future, or even better.
Schwarber hit .211 while K'ing over 35% of his AB and strugglied with both spin and velocity, so maybe Theo will reassess the dream. But think they'll look at his 2nd-half numbers, where he hit .253/.335/.559/.894, and and think that might be sustainable, or perhaps even improvable. I expect he'll be back.
Would make a huge impact if Schwarber could evolve into an asset impact bat, even if platoon only.
Will be curious to see what ideas he and the Cubs have for improving his hitting. Maybe won't, just figure that his second half is good, don't mess with anything.