Dansby Swanson Was 'Willing to Take a Lot Less' Than $177M Cubs Deal, Braves GM Says

After spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Atlanta Braves, Dansby Swanson is now a Chicago Cub, but he tried to stay with his hometown team.

Alex Anthopoulos told The Athletic's Jeff Shultz that the Braves were willing to take a lot less than the Cubs were willing to pay.

Anthopoulos replied that the Braves didn't want Dansby.

"Nice question, nice comment." I disagree with that. We weren't close to the contract he got from the organization. When he hit the open market, he was worth that much. He was a great player on the field and in the locker room. We try to manage both short term and long term. The closer a player gets to free agency the harder it is to keep them. Dansby tried his best to stay in Atlanta. In the summer, we talked. He was willing to take less than he received. It is important. We have to make sure we have enough payroll so we can allocate a full 26. At a certain point, it doesn't make sense for him to get everything he deserved. It's difficult because you're losing two great people.

Since making his MLB debut with the Braves in 2016 he has become one of the best at his position.

The Braves, of course, would have liked to retain Swanson, but Anthopoulos is correct in saying the club must be wise in what contracts it gives out so it can continue to field a contender in the future.

Atlanta has a replacement for Swanson that is very good.

The signing of Swanson shows that the Cubs are slowly working their way back to contention for a playoff spot. The Chicago Cubs have to contend with the Milwaukee Brewers and St. LouisCardinals in the NL Central, but they have signed two good additions this winter.

The Cubs finished third in the NLCentral with a 74-88 record. Since 2020, they haven't made the playoffs or won a title.