The Atlanta Braves offseason was odd in several respects, but the most notable was adding Sean Murphy to a position of strength while letting shortstop go unaddressed. Atlanta had plenty of options on the market if they didn’t want to pay Dansby Swanson, a great defender and a proven hitter in the clutch, top dollar.
However, if there was one complaint about Swanson, it would be the extreme hot and cold spells at the plate Swanson is prone to go through. This made it somewhat easier to explain why the Braves would choose to let him walk away with a deal to the Chicago Cubs that is well within reason in today’s market.
The move became even more questionable after Atlanta failed to add to the position and now, as we near two months into the season, it is obvious it was a mistake to let Swanson walk away.
Atlanta Braves made a mistake with Dansby Swanson
Incumbent shortstop Orlando Arcia is off to a hot start, but the lack of defense is obvious and the ripple affect it has had throughout the infield. Without Swanson manning the middle of the defense, those watching every game can’t help but notice the obvious regression and the lack of the seemingly small plays Swanson made on a nightly basis.
If the Braves could go back in time, there is no question they would keep their franchise shortstop and give the team the much-needed boost they are missing.
While making the move for Murphy has paid off for Atlanta, losing Swanson has had an equal impact. Arcia’s bat is going to regress to the veteran’s career norms and the Braves will be left with an obvious issue at the position.
Losing Freddie Freeman and Swanson in back-to-back offseasons is a tough pill to swallow for Atlanta fans despite their recent title. Atlanta’s front office is sharply run and clearly has hit on far more deals than they have missed, but it is okay to point out when they were clearly wrong and that is the case with the Cubs shortstop.
Swanson is the missing piece for this Atlanta team that when fully healthy would feel as if they could make a World Series run yet again. Instead, this feels like a good team that is a move or two away from being a World Series roster.
With a long summer to go and a front office with a record of making splashy deals, it is possible the Braves find answers. Even if that’s the case, the fact remains the Braves clearly made the wrong decision letting Swanson walk away.