When the MLB offseason started, there were several top shortstops and lots of teams looking for one.
Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Dansby Swanson, and Carlos Correa were all without a team.
A few weeks into free agency, however, the landscape has changed a bit mostly because there is only one player available from that group: Swanson.
Turner signed to play in Philadelphia, Bogaerts went to San Diego, and Correa is going to San Francisco.
What hasn’t changed, however, is the fact that there are still several organizations interested in a young, good shortstop.
That’s why Swanson should be able to get a great deal for himself.
“Dansby Swanson’s free agent market has skyrocketed with the recent marquee shortstop signings: The Chicago Cubs, Minnesota #Twins, Boston #Redsox, Los Angeles #Dodgers and Atlanta all in play for the All-Star,” MLB insider Bob Nightengale tweeted.
Dansby Swanson’s free agent market has skyrocketed with the recent marquee shortstop signings:
The Chicago Cubs, Minnesota #Twins, Boston #Redsox, Los Angeles #Dodgers and Atlanta all in play for the All-Star.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 14, 2022
Five Teams Are Reportedly In The Swanson Sweepstakes
That’s five teams, all looking to be contenders, and most of them are hurt after losing a top target and will want to make a statement to their fan base.
The Red Sox lost Bogaerts, the Twins just lost Correa, and the Dodgers saw how Turner went to the Phillies.
The Braves lost Swanson but remain in play to re-sign him.
It won’t be easy, though: some of those squads will make him a priority signing.
The dynamic shortstop hit .277/.329/.447 with 25 home runs and accumulated 6.4 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in 2022.
His defense is also outstanding, he is athletic, and he can also run.
All things considered, he is going to be a very rich man soon.
Someone will probably overpay to keep the other teams at bay.
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