Atlanta Braves: Optioning Dansby Swanson is a Mistake

Dansby Swanson has now not only lost his job  as the starting shortstop for the Atlanta Braves but has now been demoted off of the roster completely. The move for the Braves comes in the middle of a 2-40 slump for Swanson.

Coming into the season Dansby Swanson was thought to be a fan favorite and a perfect choice for rookie of the year. A few months later and Swanson has struggled to say the least slumping around the Mendoza line and losing his job.

If your the Atlanta Braves moving Swanson down is the right move to make for a team that is in contention but the Braves are not. Not only are they falling out of the postseason race after their recent team slump they continue to stick with veteran closer Jim Johnson despite his massive struggles late in games.

Sticking with Dansby Swanson is more important considering that the Braves still think he is the shortstop of the future. That is not to say that he could not learn from heading back down to the minors but he will not learn what he needs to completely until he is playing every day at the Major League level.

Swanson needs to be learning how to become a Major League player every day or proving that he is not able to hack it. It brings up the question of attempting to have the best team on the field or looking towards the future?

It is the right decision at the wrong time for a team that is not competing. Deciding to send down a player that is supposedly going to be a part of your core is a bad move and one the Braves should make only after Swanson has played a full season and proven himself incapable of playing at the level needed to be an everyday player.