Market price set for Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson

While the Atlanta Braves have been busy locking up their present and future core, there has been one notable exception. Dansby Swanson is still slated to reach free agency this offseason, leaving the Braves without a key part of their lineup locked in.

Although Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, and Trea Turner are all expected to enter free agency this offseason as well, Swanson should still earn a significant payday. In fact, it may already be known as to what type of deal he could approach in free agency.

Atlanta Braves have to know what Dansby Swanson wants for contract

One just needs to look at the previous offseason. Both Trevor Story and Javier Baez were 29 years old when they entered the market. Both players received identical six year deals worth $140 million. Swanson is also going to be 29 years old in February. That six year deal at $140 million may be what he is looking at for a baseline.

That contract may be possible. Swanson is in the midst of a career season, having posted a .292/.348/.455 batting line with 16 homers and 25 doubles in his 506 plate appearances entering Thursday while saving six runs defensively. He earned his first All Star appearance, timing his impressive season perfectly.

There are reasons for teams to balk if that is the baseline that his representatives look for. Swanson has a career 94 OPS+, a respectable enough mark, but also far below the 120 OPS+ he has posted this year. His strikeout and walk rates have also trended in the wrong direction over the past four years. A career worst 7.5% walk rate, coupled with a career high .377 batting average on balls in play, suggest that regression is coming.

Despite those possible concerns, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Braves have begun extension talks with Swanson. There is more optimism currently than there was at the same stage of talks with Freddie Freeman, but any discussions are still reportedly in the preliminary stage. There is no guarantee that a deal gets done.

Likewise, a contract approaching what Story and Baez got may not be in the Braves’ best interests. Both players had question marks entering free agency and neither deal has exactly been a winner in their first year. Nonetheless, those contracts are likely what Swanson is looking at for his next deal.

Dansby Swanson is getting closer to free agency. Although the Atlanta Braves have begun extension talks, he may have his next contract in mind.