{"id":164594,"date":"2022-12-21T21:48:01","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T21:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/dansby-swanson-details-cubs-decision-cites-late-grandfather\/"},"modified":"2022-12-21T21:48:01","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T21:48:01","slug":"dansby-swanson-details-cubs-decision-cites-late-grandfather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/dansby-swanson-details-cubs-decision-cites-late-grandfather\/","title":{"rendered":"Dansby Swanson details Cubs decision, cites late grandfather"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CHICAGO — Dansby Swanson’s first choice was Atlanta.<\/p>\n

But the former Braves’ shortstop said his second choice was a sentimental one — because the newest member of the Chicago Cubs used to watch their games with his grandfather, who died just a week ago.<\/p>\n

“Every time I walked in, he would have the Cubs game on,” a slightly teary-eyed Swanson said Wednesday during his introductory news conference at Wrigley Field. “He just loved baseball so much. … Being a Cub means more to me than people will realize. It’s no secret I left my hometown team to be here.”<\/p>\n

Swanson, an Atlanta native, signed a seven-year, $177 million contract with the Cubs on Wednesday, the second-richest deal in franchise history. The Cubs “blew away” the Braves’ offer, according to a source, undoubtedly making the decision to leave Atlanta a little easier.<\/p>\n

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hope that I would be back home,” Swanson said. “Atlanta is where I always envisioned myself, especially after I got traded. I’m a homebody, my family is there. There’s deep roots there, but at the end of the day I reached out [to the Braves] plenty in the offseason … and got the pretty clear sense that they were going to move on.<\/p>\n