Cubs, All-Star SS Swanson finalize $177 million, 7-year deal
CHICAGO (AP) — Growing up in Georgia, Dansby Swanson used to go over to his grandfather’s home proper after faculty. He would barge in and ask Herb Swanson to hit him some grounders.
Whenever Dansby came to visit, Herb was watching a Chicago Cubs recreation on WGN. Dansby then would tease his pops about being Atlanta Braves followers.
“He loved baseball so much and all he ever wanted me to be is what I am doing now,” Dansby Swanson mentioned.
What Swanson is doing now could be taking part in shortstop for the Cubs, after he finalized a $177 million, seven-year contract on Wednesday. He started his profession along with his hometown Braves, serving to his grandfather’s favourite group win the 2021 World Series.
Swanson married Chicago Red Stars ahead Mallory Pugh on Dec. 10, and Herb, 88, died the subsequent day. Ten days later, Swanson had his grandfather on his thoughts as he pulled a No. 7 Cubs jersey over his shoulders, prepared to start the subsequent a part of his large league profession.
“To be able to play for my grandfather’s two favorite teams, it means literally like the world to me,” Swanson mentioned.
It’s an essential second for the Cubs, too. The addition of Swanson is the largest of three main strikes by the group for the reason that finish of its second straight dropping season. Right-hander Jameson Taillon signed a $68 million, four-year contract, and 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger bought a $17.5 million, one-year deal.
With Swanson within the fold, Nico Hoerner strikes from shortstop to second base. Coupled with Bellinger in heart, the Cubs ought to be one of many majors’ finest groups relating to up-the-middle protection.
“We kind of say like it’s a race to 27 outs and whoever can get them the fastest usually wins the game,” Swanson mentioned. “So putting together the defense that we currently have is pretty, pretty special.”
The 28-year-old is coming off maybe his finest season, hitting .277 with 25 homers and a career-best 96 RBIs in 162 video games for Atlanta. He made the NL All-Star group for the primary time and gained his first Gold Glove.
Swanson’s deal features a $7 million signing bonus, full no-trade clause and a resort suite on street journeys. He will make $13 million subsequent 12 months and $25 million in 2024. After making $27 million for 3 straight seasons, he can have a $26 million wage in 2028 and make $25 million in 2029.
Swanson was a part of a stellar group of free agent shortstops that additionally included Trea Turner, Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts. All 4 have discovered a brand new house.
“It was an odd process. It was odd not knowing truly where you would end up,” Swanson mentioned.
“Just so grateful that issues labored out as easily as they did.”
The connection between the Cubs and Swanson was cemented by two key moments: a gathering in Atlanta when Swanson requested as many or probably extra questions than the Cubs, and a winter conferences telephone name between Swanson and Cubs normal supervisor Carter Hawkins, who performed baseball with Swanson’s brother after they had been children, and in addition is from Atlanta and performed school ball at Vanderbilt.
When it involves the Atlanta assembly, President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer mentioned it felt like Swanson was interviewing the group.
“It was very clear winning was the priority,” Hoyer mentioned. “How are you going to build a team around me?”
Chicago went 74-88 this 12 months and completed third within the NL Central. But it went 40-31 in its final 71 video games, and Hoyer and Hawkins bought Swanson on the group’s robust end, its pitching and hitting infrastructure and its future — each within the minors and what it plans to spend on future additions.
“The important goal is winning. That’s the only stat that matters,” Swanson mentioned. “And bringing that sort of philosophy is really, really important.”
Swanson was chosen by Arizona with the No. 1 total choose within the 2015 novice draft, however he was traded to Atlanta in a multiplayer deal that December.
With the Braves, Swanson grew to become a part of a younger core that led the franchise again to the highest of the NL East. He batted .248 with 27 homers and 88 RBIs in 2021, serving to Atlanta to its first World Series championship since 1995.
While Atlanta managed to signal a few its younger stars to team-friendly, long-term offers, it was unable to do the identical with Swanson. After the group was eradicated by Philadelphia within the NL Division Series, the Braves gave Swanson a $19.65 million qualifying provide. But the Kennesaw, Georgia, native declined the proposal.
That transfer put him on the street to Chicago.
“Just excited to get going, and for what’s ahead,” Swanson mentioned.
The Cubs finalized their cope with Taillon on Monday. He will make $14 million subsequent 12 months and $18 million in every of the next three seasons. He can block trades to 10 groups and will get a resort suite on street.
The group can defer $10 million of Taillon’s 2026 wage if he has an elbow harm on the finish of the 2025 season.
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