MLB Rumors: Braves Backup Plans If They Lose Swanson

The Atlanta Braves would love to re-up with their long-time shortstop Dansby Swanson. For seven years, he's been a rock at the keystone for the Braves and in 2022 ascended to All-Star status for the first time. 

But with a number of teams on his trail, there's no guarantee that Atlanta will be able to keep their hometown product. And according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, if Swanson slips through their fingers, Braves' fans shouldn't expect them to pivot to one of the other superstar shortstops on the market (Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts). 

As Rosenthal notes, all three of the other shortstops figure to be even more expensive than Swanson. His overall deal is expected to wind up in the $150M range, while Bogaerts should hover around $200M, and Turner and Correa closer to $300M. 

President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos at the recent GM meetings mentioned Orlando Arcia and Vaughn Grissom in particular as internal options at shortstop. 

Alex Anthopoulos on Vaughn Grissom: “I know in talking to Ron Washington, he really has belief that he will develop into an everyday defensive shortstop."

Grissom is going to visit Washington three times to work on his defense this winter. https://t.co/78ymCIr4wo

— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) November 10, 2022

Anthopoulos said about Grissom: “I know in talking to Ron Washington, he really has the belief that he will develop into an everyday defensive shortstop." 

The Braves have handed out a lot of huge multi-year contracts over the past year or two to their stars all over the diamond, and are perilously close to the luxury tax threshold for 2023. Forcing the issue on another huge deal that breaks their salary structure is not something they're intending to do. 

As Rosenthal notes, with all those huge contracts, no one player will earn more than $22M in any season of those deals.

 Photo: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports