AL Central
Kansas City Royals
Arguably the top free agent, Kyle Schwarber, he’s expected to make a decision rather quickly and many insiders are stating he is a lot of team’s hold up. There’s several aggressive teams in on him, namely the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and…a surprise team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have made a very serious offer, per Ken Rosenthal.
How Kyle Schwarber Fits With the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds
Kyle Schwarber has long been one of baseball’s most polarizing sluggers — a left-handed power bat with game-changing home-run ability, a high walk rate, but defensive limitations that push him toward DH-first usage. As clubs map out their 2026 rosters, two NL Central teams stand out as realistic and intriguing fits: the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds. Each club is on a different competitive timeline, yet both could benefit from Schwarber’s combination of leadership, postseason experience, and left-handed thump.
Why Kyle Schwarber Makes Sense for the Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates enter 2026 with a young offensive core headlined by Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, Spencer Horwitz, whom had a pretty good year, Jared Jones, and a wave of prospects approaching the majors like newly acquired Jhostynxon Garcia. What the roster lacks is established middle-order power and a veteran presence who has played in meaningful October games.
Schwarber checks both boxes.
1. A Proven Left-Handed Anchor
Pittsburgh’s lineup leans right-handed at the top and middle. Schwarber would immediately slide into a No. 2 or No. 4 spot, balancing the order and giving Cruz legitimate protection. His ability to work deep counts and draw walks fits the Pirates’ growing emphasis on plate discipline.
2. A Stabilizing DH Option
The Pirates haven’t had a consistent designated hitter since the rule was added. Schwarber provides a stable, everyday solution without blocking young outfielders. The DH spot allows them to keep his bat in the lineup while minimizing defensive strain.
3. A Veteran for a Young Clubhouse
Schwarber’s postseason résumé — from the Cubs to the Phillies — carries weight. Pittsburgh has lacked experienced anchors during rebuild seasons. Bringing in a steady, respected presence accelerates the maturation of the younger core.
4. A Short-Term Competitive Boost
The NL Central remains wide open. For a Pirates club pushing toward .500 and beyond, Schwarber is the type of signing that signals a shift from development to contention.
Why Kyle Schwarber Fits the Cincinnati Reds in 2026
The Reds are built around an explosive, athletic core: Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, Noelvi Marte, Matt McLain, and guys like Ke’Bryan Hayes. What’s missing heading into 2026 is a reliable, left-handed power bat with tenure, especially after losing Joey Votto and after inconsistent year-to-year production from internal options.
Schwarber is a natural fit for both the roster and the ballpark. Not to mention, he’s a HUGE Reds fan, and grew up such.
1. Schwarber + Great American Ball Park = Home-Run Surge
Few players elevate a team’s slugging profile more than Schwarber, and few ballparks reward left-center and right-field power like GABP. His pull-side strength aligns perfectly with Cincinnati’s dimensions, making a 40-plus homer season very realistic.
2. Protecting Cincinnati’s Core Hitters
Pitching around De La Cruz becomes much harder with Schwarber looming. His ability to force pitchers into the strike zone boosts opportunities for the Reds’ speed-oriented players to cause damage.
3. DH Flexibility Without Blocking Youth
The Reds have an overloaded infield/outfield pipeline. Adding Schwarber at DH ensures:
- He doesn’t stunt the growth of prospects
- The lineup gets a major veteran bat
- Positional flexibility remains intact for David Bell (or Cincinnati’s 2026 manager)
4. A Veteran With Postseason Edges
Cincinnati’s roster remains young. Schwarber brings a playoff edge that the Reds have lacked since the early 2010s. His leadership value can’t be overstated for a club trying to make the postseason consistently. We think this is the main reason to buy on Schwarber.
5. Affordable Power Relative to Market Trends
As power-hitting DHs climb in value, Schwarber represents a mid-tier contract with elite power upside — ideal for a Reds team that spends selectively but strategically. I know we say this, loosely… ‘mid tier’ – he’s scheduled for a 5 year/$140M-150M payday. For these two clubs mentioned, that’s hardly a mid-tier contract, but it’s doable with how they’re built.
Who’s the Better Fit? Pirates or Reds?
Both the Pirates and Reds benefit from Schwarber’s profile, but in different ways:
| Team | Why He Fits | Competitive Context |
|---|---|---|
| Pirates | Need left-handed power, DH stability, and a veteran leader | Rising from rebuild into contention |
| Reds | Perfect ballpark fit, left-handed anchor, postseason experience, hometown guy | Already competing; boosting middle-order force |
If Pittsburgh wants a culture-shifting presence: Schwarber is ideal.
If Cincinnati wants to maximize its offensive ceiling immediately: Schwarber is close to perfect.
In the wide-open NL Central landscape of 2026, either team adding Schwarber could tilt the division, especially with the pitching BOTH teams have. I think we give the edge to Cincinnati here, but they will have to pony up and pay. We already know the Pirates have an offer for 4/$120M for Schwarber’s services.
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