ATLANTA — One year after Freddie Freeman up and left the Braves, Dansby Swanson can up and leave. (Let’s get this out of the way: Swanson, like Freeman, is represented by Excel Sports Management.) This isn’t to say Swanson will, but he might. As a public service, we offer talking points for your Thanksgiving convocations.
— 1. Swanson is an All-Star shortstop. He isn’t a perennial All-Star. He hasn’t been named MVP. He isn’t on a Cooperstown track. Freeman was, and is, all of those. Swanson is a good player coming off his best year. His WAR for 2022 was 5.7; his total WAR for his previous six seasons was 8.8.
— 2. Swanson isn’t the best shortstop available. Carlos Correa, Trea Turner and Xander Bogaerts are better players of a similar age. (Swanson will turn 29 in February.)
