NEWSLETTER
Another signal pointing toward the Cubs having a serious interest in Dansby Swanson, this time from Jon Morosi, who’d previously been the hottest member of the Cubs-and-Carlos-Correa speculation bus. But this is now the second time Morosi has connected the Cubs and Swanson.
Cubs and Phillies for Swanson? Plus presumably Braves?
This is just the latest connection between the Cubs and Swanson, who might sport the best glove on the free agent market, but whose bat would likely not be an impact-level difference maker for this Cubs lineup. Something I mentioned earlier today, before Morosi’s report:
I’m good with the Cubs adding Swanson in the abstract. He’s a good player. He’s probably going to cost a lot more than we were expecting going into the offseason (at least six years seems like a mortal lock), but he could help almost any team. It’s just that the Cubs need impact bats. If one of them isn’t coming from the shortstop group, then the Cubs will have to be certain that they can add it elsewhere. And the pickins are slim.
Again, that’s not me expressing opposition to Swanson on the Cubs (even if I’d very much prefer Correa, given the choice). It’s just that the Cubs can’t add solely Swanson and act like the offense is transformed.
In a related point: I tend to think that it would be sufficiently illogical for the Cubs to ONLY add Dansby Swanson that IF they do in fact add Dansby Swanson, I’m going to take that as a good sign that more is coming.
Also on Swanson, if you do believe he’s the best defender among the shortstops, his presence on the Cubs – side by side with Nico Hoerner up the middle – could be an assist as the Cubs try to sign some more free agent pitching. Who wouldn’t want those two up the middle behind him?
Michael adding a little fwiw:
