CHICAGO (AP) — All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson is joining the Chicago Cubs, finalizing a $177 million, seven-year contract on Wednesday.
The addition of Swanson is the biggest of three major moves by the Cubs since the end of the season. Right-hander Jameson Taillon signed a four-year contract worth roughly $68 million, and 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger got a $17.5 million, one-year deal.
With Swanson in the fold, Nico Hoerner likely moves from shortstop to second base. When coupled with Bellinger in center, the Cubs should be one of the majors’ best teams when it comes to up-the-middle defense.
The 28-year-old Swanson is coming off perhaps his best big league season, hitting .277 with 25 homers and a career-best 96 RBIs in 162 games for Atlanta. He made the NL All-Star team for the first time and won his first Gold Glove.
Swanson’s deal includes a full no-trade clause. The Cubs have scheduled a Wednesday news conference for a formal introduction.
Chicago went 74-88 this year and finished third in the NL Central. It was its second straight losing season, but it went 40-31 in its last 71 games.
The Cubs also bolstered their bullpen when they agreed to a $2.8 million, one-year contract with Brad Boxberger last week.
Swanson was part of a stellar group of free agent shortstops that also included Trea Turner, Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts. He was the last one of the four to decide on a team.
Swanson was selected by Arizona with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, but he was traded to Atlanta in a multiplayer deal that December.
With the Braves, Swanson became part of a young core that led the franchise back to the top of the NL East. He batted .248 with 27 homers and 88 RBIs in 2021, helping Atlanta to its first World Series championship since 1995.
While Atlanta managed to sign a couple of its young stars to team-friendly, long-term deals, it was unable to do the same with Swanson. After the team was eliminated by Philadelphia in the NL Division Series, the Braves gave Swanson a $19.65 million qualifying offer. But the Kennesaw, Georgia, native declined the proposal.
Swanson, who played college ball at Vanderbilt, made his big league debut with Atlanta in 2016. He is a .255 hitter with 102 homers and 411 RBIs in 827 career games.
Swanson and Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Pugh got married this month in Georgia.
___
Follow Jay Cohen at https://twitter.com/jcohenap
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports