Shortstop Dansby Swanson felt he made the right decision in leaving the Atlanta Braves since he signed his massive contract with the Chicago Cubs.
This past winter, there were four top-tier shortstops available, Dansby Swanson being among them. Swanson spent the majority of his career with the Atlanta Braves, who had just let one of their faces of the franchise leave the offseason prior in Freddie Freeman. But, the Chicago Cubs sent Swanson a seven-year, $177 million contract, which he accepted.
In a recent article from The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney, Swanson was asked if he ever realized that he made the right decision signing with the Cubs. Swanson replied, saying that he felt that since the first day he joined the team.
“I’ve believed that ever since Day 1,” said Swanson. “My wife and I prayed about it a lot. When that was answered, I haven’t regretted one ounce of it. I feel very convicted in being here. Chicago is where we felt led to be. I’ve learned to trust the big man’s plan more than my own. Every time I’ve had a big change in my life, it’s worked out for the better. Getting traded to Atlanta was an amazing thing for me. That’s how I met my wife. I just know that this is where we’re supposed to be.”
Dansby Swanson felt signing with Cubs was right decision since ‘Day 1’
Swanson was the first overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he was traded to the Braves later that year. That was the very deal in which the Braves traded Shelby Miller to the Diamondbacks.
Since making his major league debut in 2016, he was a mainstay at shortstop in Atlanta. In 2021, Swanson won his first World Series title with the Braves. Then, in 2022, he made it to the All-Star Game for the first time and won his first Gold Glove award at shortstop.
In his seven years with Atlanta, Swanson recorded a .255 batting average, a .321 on-base percentage, a .447 slugging percentage, 102 home runs, 411 RBI, 433 runs scored, and 775 hits.
This offseason, the Braves seemed unwilling to sign Swanson to a lucrative, long-term contract, and more willing to play either Orlando Arcia or Vaughn Grissom at shortstop in 2023. The Cubs arrived with the big offer, and Swanson to sign in Chicago, the very city in which his wife, Mallory, plays for the National Women’s Soccer League’s Red Stars. Chicago has already clearly made an impression.
For the first time in his MLB career, Swanson won’t be starting Opening Day as a member of the Braves. On Opening Day, March 30, against the Milwaukee Brewers, Swanson will be the starting shortstop for the Cubs.