Phillies free agency: The case for Dansby Swanson
The Phillies have spent a lot of money since John Middleton's arrival. The team has the payroll flexibility to "push the needle to try to win" despite paying the luxury tax for the first time in franchise history. CBS Philadelphia is breaking down the big-ticket shortstop market.
Dansby Swanson is free agent and could sign with the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a product of the Atlanta Braves. Freddie Freeman left the Braves for the Los Angeles Dodgers last winter.
Swanson was drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015 and traded to the Braves six months later. He made his major league debut in August 2016. Swanson's first three seasons were mired in inconsistency. In 2022, Swanson hit .277/.329/.447 with a .776 OPS and 115 OPS+ with 25 home runs and a career-high 96 RBIs. His 21.4 Defensive Runs Above Average (Def) led all National League players and his 21 outs above average were second in MLB.
The Phillies are interested in signing Dansby Swanson. Swanson is a good hitter, but he's not a great one. He's a better player defensively. The Phils signed Wheeler to a $118 million contract in 2019. FanGraphs projects Swanson's contract will be in the range of six years, $139 million. Correa, Bogaerts and Turner are the other free agents. Bryson Stott played at second base in his rookie season.
