Step back from the cliff: Cubs finalizing a deal with Dansby Swanson

If the Cubs hope to contend in 2023, there was virtually no path forward given how the offseason had played out to this point where they could do so without Dansby Swanson. Thankfully, it appears as if Jed Hoyer will get his shortstop after all, with multiple media outlets reporting the two sides were finalizing a deal on Saturday afternoon.

Cubs finally get their guy. sign Dansby Swanson to seven-year deal

According to Russ Dorsey of Bally Sports, the deal is for seven years and $177 million and includes a full no-trade clause for the 28-year-old infielder. Given what the other three top free agent shortstops pulled in via free agency, this feels like a huge win for the Cubs if these terms prove to be accurate.

You can also look at it this way: it's roughly half of what the Giants gave Carlos Correa this week (13 years, $350 million). One can make the case Correa is a more impactful addition, but knowing the Cubs will only be paying Swanson through his age-36 season feels awfully good right about now.

David Kaplan was first with the news, and was quickly followed by Michael Cerami and, the big fish himself, Jeff Passan. With the addition, the Cubs are now one of the premier defensive teams in the league up the middle with Swanson and Nico Hoerner at short and second, respectively, and former National League MVP Cody Bellinger in center.

In 2022, Swanson put together the best year of his career, accumulating 5.7 bWAR and slashing .277/.329/.447 for Atlanta. Widely viewed as having the lowest ceiling of a shortstop class that featured Correa, Xander Bogaerts and Trea Turner, Turner still represents a major middle infield upgrade for the Cubs moving forward.

Looking at the projected lineup, it's clear there's still a lot of work to do - but Swanson is a big step forward. Expect Chicago to add more middle-tier guys: we're talking Trey Mancini, Tucker Barnhart, Justin Turner - players of that nature. We'll have lots more on this signing in the hours and days to come - but for now, we can all take a collective step back from the ledge. Hoyer got his guy.