Dansby Swanson and the Atlanta Braves “haven’t had any legit negotiations” this offseason, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reported on Friday.
Dansby Swanson is the big question mark for the Braves this offseason, as the team’s biggest free agent. The SS remains one of the two high-profile free agents at the position, alongside Carlos Correa.
Per Bowman’s report, the team’s most recent offer was a six-year deal with an AAV of around $16-$17 million and this was during the season. After the signings of two other SS, Trea Turner, who received an 11-year, $300 million deal from Philadelphia, and Xander Bogaerts, who signed for 11 years and $280 million, this offer feels very light. Bowman speculates that Swanson could receive six or seven-year deals with an AAV of around $22-$25 million from other clubs. The consensus is that if he’s staying in Atlanta, Swanson would be leaving money on the table.
However, aside from the most recent offer, contact between the two parties has been light. The Braves beat writer mentions that Swanson was so bothered by the lack of contact, that he called Braves GM, Alex Anthopoulos for an update.
"Bothered by the absence of communication since the end of the season, Swanson called Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos to get a feel for where things stand."
Alex Anthopoulos mentioned having the conversation with Swanson during the Winter Meetings but didn’t offer much insight beyond the normal GM speak.
Alex Anthopoulos spoke to Dansby Swanson. "Great conversation," Anthopoulos said. He didn't go much further than that, except to add that his "conversations with (Swanson) are always great."
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) December 4, 2022
The perceived likelihood of the Georgia native returning to Atlanta has decreased by the day. Bowman himself, who predicted that the Swanson free agency would not mirror the Freeman saga, began to have second thoughts in his most recent article, stating that while Swanson could remain in Atlanta, “it certainly doesn’t feel like a probability.”
Whether Swanson remains in Atlanta or not, however, will likely not be answered in the next few days, as the 28-year-old is rumored to be getting married this weekend.
I think a non-zero consideration regarding the Braves and specifically Dansby Swanson is that I am reasonably certain Dansby is getting married this weekend.
— Eric Cole (@leprekhan) December 7, 2022
Take from that what you will. Also, Anthopoulos* https://t.co/qVZ1PaiD0c