{"id":147352,"date":"2026-01-31T17:51:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T17:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=147352"},"modified":"2026-01-31T17:51:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T17:51:54","slug":"dansby-swanson-enters-year-eleven-with-one-big-question-facing-cubs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=147352","title":{"rendered":"Dansby Swanson Enters Year Eleven With One Big Question Facing Cubs"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

IMAGE: Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) gestures after hitting a home run against the New York Mets during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. \/ David Banks \/ Imagn Images<\/div>\n
\n

Dansby Swanson: Still Steady, Still Key, but What Comes Next for the Cubs’ Veteran Shortstop?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dansby Swanson turns 32 in a couple of weeks, and while the calendar keeps flipping, his game hasn\u2019t shown many signs of slowing down – at least, not yet. Now entering his 11th season in the majors, Swanson remains a steady, if not spectacular, presence for the Cubs. And with four years left on his seven-year deal, Chicago\u2019s front office is banking on that steadiness holding firm a little while longer.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the basics: Swanson\u2019s career has been solid. Drafted first overall by the Diamondbacks back in 2015 and developed at Vanderbilt, he\u2019s put together a 28.4 career WAR – both by Baseball Reference and FanGraphs – which is a testament to his consistency more than flash.<\/p>\n

Over the past few seasons, he\u2019s added more pop to his game, bumping his home run totals from the low double digits to the 20-homer range. His 2021 campaign, when he launched 27 long balls, still stands as his high-water mark.<\/p>\n

But with that added power has come a dip in batting average. During his time in Chicago, he\u2019s hovered around .244 – a noticeable drop from the .250s he was posting earlier in his career.<\/p>\n

That could be a byproduct of a more launch-angle-focused approach, or maybe just the Wrigley Field effect – a phenomenon that\u2019s not always kind to hitters despite its reputation. Either way, it\u2019s clear Swanson\u2019s offensive game has shifted: more power, less contact.<\/p>\n

Even so, his 2026 line – .244\/.300\/.417 with 24 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and 77 RBI – is nothing to scoff at. It\u2019s a balanced mix of production across the board.<\/p>\n

And when you factor in his glove, that value gets a boost. Swanson remains an elite defender at shortstop, and that\u2019s not just eye test – his defensive metrics continue to back it up.<\/p>\n

The Cubs are in an interesting spot with him. At 32, Swanson is still playing like a guy in his prime, but the back half of long-term deals can be tricky.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not a knock on Swanson – it\u2019s just the reality of aging in baseball. The Cubs will eventually have to plan for what comes next, but for now, he\u2019s still a dependable piece in the middle of the diamond.<\/p>\n

Postseason-wise, Swanson\u2019s resume is long, if not particularly loud. He\u2019s played in 10 playoff series, but his career .233 average in October doesn\u2019t exactly scream \u201cclutch.\u201d Still, experience counts, and he brings plenty of it to a Cubs team looking to take the next step.<\/p>\n

Inside the clubhouse, Swanson\u2019s presence matters. He\u2019s viewed as a leader, even if some fans remain skeptical about the value of his contract.<\/p>\n

And sure, when you stack his numbers against his paycheck, the balance sheet doesn\u2019t tilt in his favor. But leadership, reliability, and elite defense still carry weight – especially at a premium position like shortstop.<\/p>\n

So where does that leave the Cubs? With a veteran shortstop whose bat may not carry the lineup, but whose overall game still brings value. Swanson might not be the star of the show anymore, but he\u2019s the kind of player who keeps the wheels turning – and for a team trying to build something sustainable, that\u2019s not a bad piece to have in place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IMAGE: Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) gestures after hitting a home run against the New York Mets during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. \/ David… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":147330,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-147352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nDansby Swanson Enters Year Eleven With One Big Question Facing Cubs - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=147352\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dansby Swanson Enters Year Eleven With One Big Question Facing Cubs - 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