Dansby Swanson Not Expected to Miss Time Following October Core Injury Surgery

What is it with Cubs middle infielders having surgery this offseason? The good news for Dansby Swanson, who underwent an October procedure to address a core injury, is that he’s expected to be a full go for spring training and the regular season. The same may not be true for Nico Hoerner as he works back from forearm surgery.

Swanson has drawn criticism since signing the second-largest contract in franchise history prior to the 2023 season, but he’s put up some pretty strong numbers while winning one Gold Glove and being robbed of another. Despite dealing with a number of nagging injuries, his 9.2 fWAR as a Cub leads the team. Coming in second just 0.6 wins behind is, you guessed it, Frank Stallone.

Probably one person will get that. It’s actually Hoerner, which is exactly why I dislike the idea of trading him and his extremely high floor. But the Cubs desperately need to raise their ceiling and may feel that dealing Hoerner is the best way to do so.