The Chicago Cubs knew when they signed Dansby Swanson to a long-term deal last winter they were solidifying their shortstop position for perhaps the next decade.
So far, so good, based on MLB.com’s recent rankings at the position.
The site is publishing its “Top 10 Right Now” at each position and when shortstop came up Swanson’s name came up. In fact, it rose up.
He moved from No. 6 in last year’s rankings to No. 4 in this year’s. The only players in front of him where Corey Seager of the Texas Rangers, Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets and Xander Bogaerts of the San Diego Padres.
To determine the rankings, MLB.com used past player performances, offensive and defensive metrics, traditional baseball statistics and advanced metrics.
The Cubs signed Swanson to a seven-year, $177 million deal last offseason. It’s quickly paid off.
While Swanson’s slash numbers dropped a bit from his 2022 season in Atlanta, he gave the Cubs consistency all season. He batted .244/.328/.416/.744 with 25 doubles, three triples, 22 home runs and 80 RBI.
He was selected as an All-Star and won a Gold Glove at his position for the second straight season. He also finished in the Top 20 in MVP voting for the second straight season.
Entering his age 30 seasons Swanson is clearly entering his prime and has a Gold Glove double-play partner in Nico Hoerner, who claimed his first award at second base.
The rest of the Top 10 included the Philadelphia Phillies’ Trea Turner, the Toronto Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette, the Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Correa, the Milwaukee Brewers’ Willy Adames, the Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. and the Seattle Mariners, J.P. Crawford.
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