3 moves Braves can make to leave Mets in the dust after deGrom bails
By Mark Powell
Dansby Swanson is affordable for the Braves
The Braves have saved an exorbitant amount of money over the years by signing young talent to team-friendly deals before they reached their prime. Doing so prior to arbitration is a genius maneuver by Alex Anthopoulos and Co., and also gives the organization plenty of money to play with.
Why, then, are they flirting with the possibility of losing star shortstop Dansby Swanson?
Swanson is a great clubhouse presence, and coming off his first All-Star season. He’s young enough to make a difference, but easily the fourth-best shortstop on the open market. Keeping Swanson in Atlanta, as they failed to do with Freddie Freeman, would be a good-faith move for the fans and keeps one of the best infields in baseball in place.
It’s early in the process, but Swanson has already been rumored to the Cubs and Phillies. Chicago seems like the more likely landing spot were he to in fact leave Atlanta. The Braves are still the preferred landing spot, assuming they step up to the plate with the six-year offer Swanson covets.
If not, they risk losing him just as they did Freeman, and will waste an opportunity to gain ground on the Mets.