Braves front office praises Dansby Swanson, but return to Atlanta is no guarantee

The Atlanta Braves front office faces a looming decision on shortstop Dansby Swanson. While they want him back, it’s no guarantee.

Atlanta’s backup plan for Swanson isn’t necessarily a proven one, as prospect Vaughn Grissom is likely to step into his shoes were the former No. 1-overall pick to leave in free agency. Either that, or the Braves would replace Swanson with another high-priced shortstop.

As Atlanta has figured out all too well, replacing culture is a little bit tougher than replacing said player. When Freddie Freeman left, Matt Olson was a fine replacement. But was that locker room ever the same? An NLDS defeat might suggest otherwise.

Losing ‘the sheriff’ would be another devastating blow to that culture, and Alex Anthopoulos knows it: “He gets better every year…and he’s as good a teammate as you’re going to find.”

Atlanta Braves cannot afford to lose Dansby Swanson

Atlanta saved a ton of money on potential free agents to be thanks to some impressive negotiating from Anthopoulos. The Braves have made a habit of signing high-profile players when they’re young and arbitration-eligible, rather than waiting for their walk year. This helps them save money, although they are taking a gamble if said player doesn’t continue on a positive trajectory.

But the Braves have saved a lot of money with this approach. That financial flexibility, you would think, ought to help them bring back a player like Swanson, who they deem imperative to the future of their franchise.

“I love that guy, just what he brings with his consistency,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “I’ve never seen a player that wants to win more than him. And like I say, hopefully I get to reconvene with him. We’ll see.”

Hope is the key word here. It’s the same the Braves employed during Freeman’s free agency, and one that sounds all too familiar to fans.