The Atlanta Braves are at risk of losing Dansby Swanson to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. The Dodgers are a recent bidder, and they make a lot of sense.
I promise this goes further than ‘Freddie Freeman is also a Dodger’, but we have to start with the obvious, don’t we?
Freddie Freeman signed with Los Angeles last season in a surprising decision. Alex Anthopoulos had his backup plan in tow by trading for Matt Olson days earlier. Is the case with Dansby Swanson as simple as wash, rinse and repeat?
Casey Close, the same man who helped sway Freeman to the Dodgers, is Swanson’s agent as well. He has no hidden allegiance to Los Angeles, although they are frequently in the bidding for the top free agents on the market.
Atlanta, meanwhile, tends to sit on their hands, and would rather reach team-friendly contract extensions with their stars before they reach this point in the process. Swanson is an exception to that rule.
Why Dansby Swanson makes sense for the Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers lost their own shortstop, Trea Turner, to free agency as he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on an 11-year, $300 million deal.
The shortstop market impact the NL West, as well, with Xander Bogaerts signing with the San Diego Padres for $280 million, and the San Francisco Giants heavily connected to Carlos Correa.
Swanson would cost far less than Turner or Bogaerts, and LA would acquire a suitable replacement in the process — and one who has a connection to Freeman from his days as a Brave.
Are the Braves still favorites for Dansby Swanson?
Anthopoulos and the Braves negotiations with Dansby Swanson appear to be at a standstill, with the shortstop himself (likely through an agent) making contact with the front office in recent weeks. Either Atlanta is biding their time, or they don’t value Swanson’s services.
That bit is per Braves insider Mark Bowman, who penned, “Bothered by the absence of communication since the end of the season, Swanson called Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos to get a feel for where things stand. But these two parties haven’t had any legit negotiations since the offseason began.”
Based on that assessment it’s tough to feel confident in Atlanta’s chances.
The Cubs, however, remain arguably the most engaged suitor for Swanson. Los Angeles remains a longshot.