Wrigley Field is a place where ghosts linger. You can almost see Ernie Banks flashing a smile near the ivy or feel the tension of 2016 whenever a ground ball rolls toward the hole. For decades, the shortstop for the Cubs has been more than just a position on a scorecard; it is a legacy. Right now, that legacy belongs to Dansby Swanson. But if you’ve spent any time at a sports bar on Clark Street lately, you know the vibe is shifting. People are looking at the box scores, then looking at the $177 million contract, and they're starting to wonder if "good enough" is actually good enough for a team trying to hunt down the Brewers in the NL Central.
Shortstop is the heartbeat of the infield.
It’s complicated. On one hand, you have a guy who sweeps up Gold Gloves like he’s tidying a living room. On the other, you have a batting average that sometimes makes you want to squint. Being the shortstop for the Cubs requires a specific kind of mental toughness because the fans here remember Addison Russell’s playoff spark and Javier Báez’s chaotic magic. Swanson isn't magic. He's a machine. But machines can be frustrating when they go through a 0-for-20 slump in August.
Why the Shortstop for the Cubs Position is So Polarizing Right Now
Let’s be real about the numbers. When Jed Hoyer signed Dansby Swanson to a seven-year deal, he wasn't buying a 40-slugger. He was buying peace of mind. Since 2023, Swanson has consistently ranked at the very top of Outs Above Replacement (OAR). If you look at Statcast data, his lateral range is still elite. He turns the double play with a clinical efficiency that makes difficult hops look like routine practice reps.
But baseball is a game of two halves.
The offensive output has been—to put it mildly—streaky. In 2024, we saw long stretches where the bottom of the order felt like a black hole. When your shortstop for the Cubs is hovering around a .230 or .240 average with a high strikeout rate, the defensive metrics start to feel like a consolation prize rather than a justification. It’s the classic "floor vs. ceiling" debate. Swanson provides a remarkably high floor because his defense never slumps. However, the ceiling for this Cubs offense often feels capped because they lack that high-average, high-OPS threat at the 6-spot that teams like the Rangers or Dodgers enjoy.
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It isn't just about one guy, though. It’s about the pipeline.
The Cubs have been hoarding middle infield talent like they’re expecting a global shortage. You’ve got Matt Shaw tearing through the minors. You’ve got James Triantos. For a long time, the shadow of Nico Hoerner moving back to short was always looming, though he’s found a permanent home—and a Gold Glove of his own—at second base. This internal pressure creates a weird dynamic. Every time Swanson swings through a high fastball, a segment of the fanbase starts looking toward Iowa, wondering if the "next big thing" is ready to take over the most important defensive real estate on the North Side.
The Ghost of Javy Báez and the "Star Power" Gap
We have to talk about the "El Mago" sized hole in the heart of Chicago. Javier Báez wasn't the most disciplined hitter—far from it—but he was an entertainer. He brought an energy to the shortstop for the Cubs position that defined an era. Swanson is the polar opposite. He is professional, stoic, and fundamentally sound.
Honestly? Sometimes fans miss the chaos.
There’s a psychological element to being the shortstop for the Cubs. You aren't just playing for the win; you're playing in a cathedral. The scrutiny is magnified. When Swanson struggles at the plate, it feels heavier because he lacks that "game-breaking" aura that Báez possessed. But if you talk to pitchers like Justin Steele or Shota Imanaga, they will tell you they’d take Swanson’s reliability ten times out of ten. A pitcher’s best friend isn't a flashy tag; it’s a guy who catches every single ball hit his way.
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According to FanGraphs, Swanson’s value is heavily weighted toward his "Def" (Defensive Value) metric. In seasons where he hits 20+ home runs, he’s an MVP candidate. In seasons where the power dips, he becomes a lightning rod for criticism. It’s a boom-or-bust offensive profile trapped in a steady-eddy defensive body. This creates a disconnect in how the average fan perceives his value versus how the front office sees it.
Evaluating the Current Depth Chart
- Dansby Swanson: The undisputed starter. He’s the captain of the infield and the veteran voice in the clubhouse. His contract runs through 2029, meaning he isn't going anywhere unless something catastrophic happens.
- Miles Mastrobuoni: The ultimate utility man. He’s the guy you put in when you need to give Dansby a day off, but nobody is realistically calling for him to be the everyday shortstop for the Cubs.
- The Pipeline: Matt Shaw is the name everyone is whispering. While he’s seen time at third and second, his bat is so explosive that the Cubs might be forced to get creative with the infield alignment by 2025 or 2026.
What Most People Get Wrong About Defensive Value
There is a common misconception that a "good" shortstop needs to hit .280 to be successful. That's a myth born out of the steroid era. In today's game, a shortstop who can save 15 to 20 runs a year through positioning and range is worth more than a slugger who boots the ball twice a week.
Think about the "run expectancy" of an error.
An error at shortstop often leads to big innings. It extends the pitcher's pitch count. It stresses the bullpen. By having an elite shortstop for the Cubs, the organization is essentially betting on "preventative medicine." They’re trying to win games 3-2 or 4-3. When the offense doesn't hold up its end of the bargain, the plan fails, but that doesn't mean the shortstop is the problem. It means the roster construction around him might be too reliant on defense.
Craig Counsell, the Cubs' manager, is a huge proponent of this defensive-first philosophy. He coached against the Cubs for years in Milwaukee, and he knows that run prevention is the most consistent way to stay in a race. He’s not going to bench Swanson for a slump. He’s going to double down on him.
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The Future of the Cubs Infield
What happens next? The Cubs are at a crossroads. They have the 10th highest payroll in baseball (roughly $233 million in 2024), and a large chunk is tied up in the middle infield. If the Cubs want to become true World Series contenders again, the shortstop for the Cubs needs to be more than a defensive specialist.
We might see a shift in how Swanson is used in the lineup. Dropping him to the 7th or 8th spot might take the pressure off his bat and allow him to focus on what he does best. Meanwhile, the development of young hitters like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch will dictate how much "offense" the Cubs actually need from the shortstop position. If the rest of the lineup produces, Swanson’s .240 average is a non-issue. If they don't, he becomes the scapegoat.
Nuance matters here. You can't just look at a batting average and decide a player is "bad." You have to look at the "Range Factor," the "Zone Rating," and the way he communicates with the second baseman on complex shifts. Swanson is a coach on the field. That’s why he gets the big bucks.
Actionable Insights for Cubs Fans
If you're tracking the progress of the Cubs' infield this season, don't just watch the hits. Watch the footwork. Watch the way the shortstop for the Cubs positions himself before the pitch is even thrown. Here is how to truly evaluate if the position is being played at a championship level:
- Check the "Outs Above Replacement" (OAR) on Baseball Savant once a month. If Swanson is in the top 5, he’s doing his job, regardless of his batting average.
- Monitor the "Strikeout to Walk" ratio. Swanson’s biggest weakness is chasing sliders away. If he’s drawing walks, it means he’s seeing the ball well, and the hits will eventually follow.
- Keep an eye on the Iowa Cubs (AAA) box scores. Specifically, look at where Matt Shaw is playing. If they start moving him around the diamond, it’s a sign the front office is preparing for a "positionless" infield where everyone is interchangeable.
- Watch the late-inning defensive replacements. If Counsell is pulling other players but keeping Swanson in, it shows total trust in his glove during high-leverage moments.
The shortstop for the Cubs remains one of the most prestigious—and scrutinized—jobs in professional sports. Whether it’s Dansby Swanson today or a young phenom tomorrow, the standard is Ernie Banks. It’s a high bar to clear. But as long as the Cubs are playing "meaningful games in September," the defensive stability provided by their current shortstop is a luxury many other teams would kill for.
Stop looking at the $177 million as a "hit" price tag. Look at it as an insurance policy against losing games on preventable mistakes. In the grind of a 162-game season, sometimes the most important play is the one that doesn't happen—the error that wasn't made, the runner who didn't take the extra base, and the double play that ended a rally before it could start. That is the reality of the Cubs' infield today.