The Chicago Cubs have themselves a new shortstop.
The team reportedly signed free agent Dansby Swanson to a seven-year, $177 million deal Saturday, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan and Bally Sports' Russell Dorsey.
Before the move, the Cubs had a projected tax payroll of $176.7 million, per Spotrac. Assuming an average annual value of $25.3 million on Swanson's contract, his signing should move that figure to an estimated $202 million.
It also will lock down the shortstop position for the foreseeable future and bolster the Cubs lineup. Here's a look at what that unit might look like in 2023:
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Seiya Suzuki, RF
- Cody Bellinger, CF
- Patrick Wisdom, 3B
- Nico Hoerner, 2B
- Ian Happ, LF
- Matt Mervis, 1B
- Christopher Morel, DH
- Yan Gomes, C
The additions of Bellinger and Swanson are huge for a Cubs team that lacked pop in 2022, finishing 17th in baseball in homers (159), 22nd in runs (657) and 19th in team batting average (.