(670 The Score) During this critical offseason for the Cubs, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer tested positive for COVID-19 as he was preparing to make a key decision on the free-agent shortstop market.
With nothing but time on his hands in isolation, Hoyer watched every single ground ball last season hit to the top shortstops available on the open market. It was part of why the Cubs signed All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson to a seven-year, $177-million deal this offseason.
“I was stuck in a hotel room and I have Covid; I knew we had this huge decision on which shortstop to go after,” Hoyer said on Thursday to the Bernstein & Holmes Show. “For all those guys, through our computer system, I watched every single groundball that they all got. It really did kind of gravitate me towards Dansby. Already, he had this great reputation as a leader.
“I haven’t been around a guy that you just know when the ball is hit to him and you’re out. He makes all the plays. It’s a steadying confidence that’s really incredible. That was part of what really drew me to him, is he makes every play – backhand side, glove side, coming in. There’s no play that’s uncomfortable for him. He makes all of them. It's remarkable. His presence has been so incredibly steadying.”
Swanson has out-performed the other three top free-agent shortstops – Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa and Trea Turner. Swanson is hitting .265 with 16 home runs and 51 RBIs and was named to the All-Star Game for the second time in his career this season.
The Cubs are 55-53 and three games back of first place in the National League Central division.
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