The Cubs got a bit of a facelift this offseason and that started with Dansby Swanson. The star shortstop signed on the North Side of Chicago and is the face of this new era of Cubs.
Chicago made quite a few moves this offseason but none were bigger than bringing in Swanson.
670 The Score's Matt Spiegel joined WEEI's Rob Bradford on the Audacy Original Podcast "Baseball Isn't Boring" and had high praise for the new face of the Cubs.
“Dansby’s something else, man. Dansby’s just a dude who has always been a leader to an extent,” Spiegel said (36:36 in player above). “He said he led at Vanderbilt, I have no reason to doubt that. I think he led a bit in Atlanta even though they had Freddie Freeman and a bunch of other dudes. But now he’s been paid and anointed and told to be a leader, so he is feeling it. That guy is feeling it.
“Then he came out like a freaking house of fire at the plate. And just the way he plays defense and the whole thing. This is his team, man. This is his team and people are feeding off of him. It’s very, very clear.”
Swanson had hits in each of his first four games, including three hits in three of those contests. Although his batting average has fallen below .300, he’s more than just what he brings to the plate.
“The guy plays 150 games every year. Dude is not flawless with the glove but is just so remarkably trustworthy and smooth and solid. Great baserunner, been a better base stealer than expected,” Spiegel continued. “He’s a really solid player and he’s got a little more flair and a little more swag than I had realized, too. We’re spoiled with Baez and Tim Anderson, these guys who play with some flair, but Dansby’s got some of that, pushes the chest out, really feels it, and enjoys himself.”
Swanson is batting .299 with three doubles through 20 games on the season. He has yet to hit his first Cubs home run, but he only hit one before May 6th last year and still ended the season with 25.
The shortstop is enjoying his first season in Chicago and the Cubs are off to a great start as well with a 12-9 record as the final week of April begins.
As for the other big money shortstops signing this offseason, here you go:
Xander Bogaerts, Padres (11-11): .330 batting average, .963 OPS, 5 home runs.
Carlos Correa, Twins (12-10): .214 BA, .625 OPS, 2 HRs.
Trea Turner, Phillies (11-12): .293 BA, .774 OPS, 2 HRs.
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