MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson doesn’t need any reminders of his recent birthday milestone.
Swanson, who turned 30 on Feb. 11, joked after the Cubs’ workout Monday, “We don’t have to go into that.”
“I don’t have any more grays than before that,” Swanson added with a smile. “I’ve heard your 30s are your best so that’s what I’m going to embrace.”
As Swanson enters Year 2 in Chicago, his big-picture focus has not changed, particularly after the Cubs fell short of their playoff goal last season.
“It’s always about winning and winning at the highest level and that’ll never be different as long as really I’m probably alive,” Swanson said.
The sentiment follows chairman Tom Ricketts saying Monday after their first full-squad workout that he didn’t see why the Cubs wouldn’t be favored to win the division this year. When relayed Ricketts’ comment, manager Craig Counsell embraced it.
“That’s good with me, I mean, I think that’s where you set your expectations every single year so there’s no reason we should have lower expectations than that,” Counsell said. “I think that’s absolutely correct.”
Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune
Shortstop Dansby Swanson walks on stage after being announced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention on Jan. 12, 2024, at the Sheraton Grand Chicago. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
To secure their first division title in a full season since 2017, Swanson needs to be a key cog as one of their best all-around players. He felt he didn’t play to his best in his first season with the Cubs, a personally difficult year in which his wife and Red Stars standout, Mallory Swanson, tore the patellar tendon in her left knee in April which prevented her from playing for the U.S. Women’s National Team in the World Cup.
“At the end of the day, I really, I fought about as hard as I fought in a long time and I kind of see that as personal success in a certain way because it’s going to help shape me for things ahead,” Swanson said.
Swanson has not kept his feelings secret that he would like to see the Cubs bring back Cody Bellinger. Even if a reunion doesn’t happen, Swanson believes the Cubs’ improved pitching depth and returning players getting better is a big reason why they can exceed last year’s 83 wins.
“That’s what we’re in the business for is to continue to get better and we’ve got a lot of guys that have great work ethics and are really good at self-reflecting and aware of what they need to get better at,” Swanson said. “I feel like this offseason was very intentional for a lot of folks and that’s something that you can never discount. … We’re excited to see that progression.”
Swanson embraced being a leader and setting an example through action as soon as he joined the Cubs, something he considers a God-given gift. There is added comfort from Swanson, though, that comes with relationships developing over the past year and entering spring training with a deeper understanding of how he can best lead.
“Dansby has a pedigree that his opinions count and they matter and he also will have a back and forth with you and that just makes you better too,” Counsell said. “I enjoy that. As long as we listen to each other, that’s the way it should be.”
Leadership can manifest in different forms. Maybe a player leads in the weight room or on the field. Perhaps someone takes on a vocal role in the clubhouse. Counsell believes every leadership style matters and can impact a team.
“I think that makes them a really good version themselves,” Counsell said. “It makes them feel like they have a purpose bigger than just beyond my inning pitched or my at-bat and developing that and encouraging that is part of it.”
There is added responsibility that comes with being labeled a veteran leader, which Counsell said is communicated to the player: “Dansby gets that and he wants that.”
Something to watch as the season progresses is how Counsell handles Swanson’s playing time. Swanson wants to be in the lineup every day, something he’s done three seasons during his career. He described it as a fine balance between being at his best every day as opposed to just being in the lineup. Swanson said building trust and continued conversations with Counsell are important so if there does come a day his manager wants to give him a day off, Swanson knows he needs to buy into that and not “fight my way through the brick wall like I’ve done plenty of times before.”
Counsell said knowing Swanson envisions starting all 162 games and has done it before is a great place to start from, but he isn’t going to make any decisions right now on whether that will realistically happen this year.
“Dansby’s the guy we want at shortstop so let the season tell us that and we know he’s capable of it,” Counsell said. “… So I don’t say no to it, but I also think there are times during the season where it’s my job to say no to it if it calls for it.”