Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson is an interesting option in free agency.
He is part of the Big Four of free agent shortstops, joining Xander Bogaerts, Trea Turner, and Carlos Correa amongst the top players that could be available. Swanson is also clearly the fourth option of that group, a player without the same level of accomplishment offensively on the diamond.
Three landing spots for Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson
Although he is not at the same level, Swanson has been a solid player. He has been a respectable defensive option and has been above average with the bat over the past three seasons. Swanson also has remarkable durability, playing in 322 games in the past two seasons. It is possible that he will be a bargain.
Where will Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson end up for 2023 and beyond? Let’s look at three possible landing spots.
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves have been locking up key pieces of their core but Dansby Swanson has been conspicuously absent from that group.
It is possible this changes. The Braves and Swanson had confirmed mutual interest in getting a deal done, something that would keep him in Atlanta for the foreseeable future. If he can continue to hit the way he has over the past three years, he would continue to be another solid piece to a dangerous lineup.
But Swanson also means more than his offensive production. He is known as “Sheriff” to the younger players in the clubhouse, keeping everyone focused on the task at hand. His leadership and ability to mentor those younger players could mean even more to the Braves than his statistical performance.
The potential issue is that the Braves may already have his replacement in the majors. Vaughn Grissom fared relatively well in his brief time in the majors, giving the Braves reason to hope that he could slide into the starting lineup if need be. Should Swanson’s asking price prove higher than the Braves’ interest, he could get that chance.
Dansby Swanson means more to the Atlanta Braves than the statistics show. It is a matter of whether or not they agree on his overall value.