Chicago Cubs News: Dansby Swanson ZiPS, Canario update and more

First and foremost, from our Cubbies Crib staff, we hope everyone had a safe and Happy Holiday weekend. The Chicago Cubs provided an early Holiday gift to their fans last week with the introduction of Dansby Swanson. Swanson officially signed a seven-year deal with the Cubs last week worth $177MM. Swanson's deal also includes a full no-trade clause and it is safe to say that Swanson, moving forward, is the new face of the Cubs' franchise.

Last week, FanGraphs released their 2023 ZiPS projections for the Cubs and they are sold on Swanson's offensive production next season. Swanson projects with a .259/.323/.436 slash line with a 4.5 WAR, 106 OPS+, and .327 wOBA. Swanson's projections also include 30 doubles and 23 home runs.

In recent weeks, there have been fans questioning why the Cubs chose to sign Swanson this offseason as opposed to re-signing Javier Baez last season. While the Detroit Tigers' ZiPS projections have not been released yet, FanGraphs steamer projections have Baez with a .241/.286/.414 slash line with a .303 wOBA, 2.1 WAR, and 21 home runs. Some Cubs fans may not want to admit but moving forward, Swanson projects as the better player in the long term.

Update on Chicago Cubs prospect Alexander Canario

In an Instagram post on Sunday, Chicago Cubs prospect Alexander Canario appears to be making progress in his recovery from a freak ankle and shoulder injury that he suffered during a Winter League game in October. Canario appears to no longer need crutches as he was spotted in only a walking boot.

The next official update on Canario's progress likely won't come until Spring Training but the expectation is that the Cubs' prospect will miss a significant portion of the 2023 season.

Update on Carlos Correa and the New York Mets

After free-agent shortstop Carlos Correa saw his 13-year, $350MM contract with the San Francisco Giants nixed over a 2014 leg injury, Correa signed a 12-year, $315MM deal with the New York Mets. Over the weekend, the Mets' medical team flagged the same issue and the two sides are believed to be negotiating new terms. In a report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the expectation is that the two sides will be able to reach terms on a deal with some added medical provisions.