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Nationals' Schwarber: 'There's a chip on my shoulder' after Cubs exit

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Newly signed Washington Nationals outfielder Kyle Schwarber plans to use the unceremonious end of his Chicago Cubs tenure as motivation during the 2021 season.

Schwarber joined the Nationals on Saturday after becoming a free agent early in the offseason when he was non-tendered by the Cubs. The move ended his six-year run with Chicago that included a World Series title in 2016.

"I want to come out there and I want to be the best version of me. Definitely, there's a chip on my shoulder just from the previous situation," Schwarber said, according to Byron Kerr of MASN. "It's not ever ideal from being non-tendered to things like that.

"But I want to come out, I want to be myself, I want to have that chip on my shoulder, know that I'm a way better baseball player than what I showed in 2020, and go from there."

Schwarber owns a career .816 OPS and hit 38 home runs in 2019. He struggled during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, though, slashing .188/.308/.393 with 11 round-trippers in 59 games.

The 27-year-old slugger believes his bat, along with those of Juan Soto, Trea Turner, and fellow newcomer Josh Bell, will take Washington's offense to another level.

"I definitely think this lineup's going to be dangerous," Schwarber said. "I mean, when you look at Soto, I mean obviously, I think ... he's the best hitter in the game. I really do."

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