Dansby Swanson Signs with the Chicago Cubs

Dansby Swanson has agreed to a contract with the Chicago Cubs, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.

wanson turned down the one-year, $19.65 million qualifying offer, which is the norm for free agents of his caliber. He will be signing a 7-year deal worth $177 million that also includes a full no-trade clause. The Atlanta Braves will receive a compensatory pick in next summer’s MLB Draft. Swanson will turn 29 in February. He is still young enough to be a long-term piece for the Cubs that could help them expedite their rebuild. Swanson is the second-youngest of the four big shortstops that were on the market this off-season (Xander Bogaerts, Trea Turner, and Carlos Correa).

Dansby Swanson’s Career

Swanson was the first player selected in the 2015 MLB Draft, with Alex Bregman selected right after him. Selected out of Vanderbilt, the Arizona Diamondbacks gave Swanson a $6.5 million signing bonus. In three seasons at Vanderbilt, Swanson hit .330/.418/.541/.959 with 18 home runs and 99 RBI in 696 plate appearances. He began his professional career playing shortstop for Arizona’s Short-Season Class-A Hillsboro team. But, he only played 22 games in the Diamondbacks organization as Swanson, Aaron Blair, and Ender Inciarte were sent to

Dansby Swanson is reaching his potential - Beyond the Box Score

the Braves for Shelby Miller and Gabe Speier. The trade became one of the most lopsided moves in recent memory.

Since arriving in Atlanta, Swanson lived up to his expectations to become an everyday Major Leaguer. The former first-overall pick has always been a strong defensive shortstop, as he was the game’s top defensive infielder in 2022. Swanson’s performance earned him his first career Gold Glove Award after making his first All-Star appearance. Swanson led all NL players with 21.4 Defensive Runs Above Average (Def). His 21 outs above average (OAA) ranked second among qualified players. Swanson also has a good offensive bat, hitting 25 home runs with a .277/.329/.447 slash line while playing in every one of Atlanta’s games.

Like Swanson, Bogaerts and Turner both come with the extra draft compensation. As for Correa, he was ineligible for a qualifying offer after receiving one last winter.

White Sox Reliever a Candidate for Offseason Bullpen Assistance

Braves Shortstop Dansby Swanson Buys Atlanta Home for $1.6M

Many teams this offseason need help in the bullpen and a candidate that many wouldn’t consider is Chicago White Sox reliever Michael Soroka. Despite his 0-10 record this season, the Canadian-born reliever has a lot to offer. He will also be a great addition as he would be projected to be signed for around a one-year $4 million deal. He would be a low-risk signing with an upside potential to turn things around in a new environment. While he did not play in 2021 and 2022 due to injuries, he is a player that has showcased resiliency.

This season for the White Sox is one that they don’t want to remember, but the White Sox have solid trade pieces such as Luis Robert Jr. and Garrett Crochet. While Soroka may not weigh in as high as Robert Jr. and Crochet he is still a promising bullpen piece that teams should consider. In July 2020, Soroka made history for the Braves as the youngest starter on opening day (22 years old). But Soroka has showcased more strength in the bullpen role.