The class of free-agent shortstops this offseason has been headlined by Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson and Trea Turner, but now only one remains on the open market.
After a flurry of activity during MLB’s Winter Meetings and in the time since, Swanson is the final shortstop standing.
Turner was first to come off the board, agreeing to an 11-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies that is worth $300 million and doesn’t include an opt-out clause. The San Diego Padres then signed Bogaerts to a $280 million deal, and Correa came to terms with the San Francisco Giants at 13 years and $350 million.
The long-term contracts being doled out already figured to suit Swanson well, and that should hold even more true amid a robust market.
According to Russell Dorsey of Bally Sports and Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs have interest in signing Swanson:
The market for shortstop Dansby Swanson has begun to heat up, sources tell @BallySports and @Stadium. Teams that are in the Swanson sweepstakes include the Dodgers, Giants, Twins, Cubs, Red Sox and Braves.
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) December 13, 2022
The Dodgers and Cubs were previously mentioned in reports involving Swanson. The Twins could become more of a factor now that Correa has moved on, and the Red Sox may find themselves feeling a need to spend in free agency.
Some view the Cubs as the biggest threat to sign Swanson away from the Braves due to his wife, Mallory, being a professional soccer player for the Chicago Red Stars.
At 28 years old, Swanson is the same age as Correa, one year young than Turner and two years younger than Bogaerts. He played every game this year while posting his highest full-season batting average (.277) and also setting career highs in RBI (96) and stolen bases (18).
Dodgers lose draft picks to sign Dansby Swanson
Because Swanson rejected the $19.65 million qualifying offer from the Braves, the Dodgers would lose their second- and fifth-highest picks in the 2023 MLB Draft, in addition to $1 million from their international bonus pool for the upcoming signing period should they add him.
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