This Braves player benefited the most from Mets sweep

Dansby Swanson had an all-time series vs. the New York Mets, so pay the man, Atlanta Braves.

After what Dansby Swanson did to the New York Mets at the plate in the Atlanta Braves‘ biggest series of the season so far, Liberty Media has to come to terms with paying its star shortstop out the wazoo in his MLB free agency.

Swanson went 4-for-11 at the plate over the three-game home sweep of the Mets with three home runs and four runs batted in. He is hitting .277 on the year with 25 big flies and 96 runs batted in. All the while, he has played in all 159 games for the Braves this season, providing some Gold Glove-caliber defense at the premium position of shortstop during his breakout campaign.

It may have been a contract season for Swanson, but the Braves have no choice but to pay up.

Dansby Swanson is about to be paid most handsomely by the Atlanta Braves

The former Vanderbilt star and No. 1 overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks grew up right down the road in Marietta, Georgia. He literally gets to play shortstop miles from his childhood home. Although he shares the same representation that allowed Freddie Freeman to walk to the Los Angeles Dodgers last winter, it seems next to impossible for Swanson to play anywhere else.

Unlike Freeman, Swanson is far from a lock for Cooperstown. He is a few years younger than his former Atlanta teammate, but he needs starring in front of his hometown team to build up his legacy. Swanson has a great relationship with all of his infielders, including newcomer Matt Olson. The Lilburn native was going to room with Swanson at Vanderbilt had he decided to not turn pro.

With pretty much everybody of note in Atlanta’s core locked up long-term outside of left-handed ace Max Fried, who enters a contract year in 2023, why would Swanson want to willingly leave his version of baseball paradise behind? While Freeman did it, this is different with Swanson, as he grew up here. Even if he takes a slight discount, Liberty Media would be foolish not to pay him big.

Ultimately, Atlanta is in a better position financially to retain Swanson than Freeman a year ago. Swanson will get paid big in his free agency, but he is not a perennial All-Star or a former NL MVP. Not only that, but Atlanta has had two full seasons of The Battery being an absolute cash cow. The finances Atlanta is pulling in from it cannot be overstated. They will be reinvesting these dividends.

The Braves built The Battery so they can pay guys like Swanson to inspire the next hometown kid.