The Atlanta Braves split two arbitration cases on Wednesday, dropping the decision against Dansby Swanson, but coming out victorious over Adam Duvall.
Swanson, the Braves’ starting shortstop, will receive $10 million this season instead of Atlanta’s target figure of $9.2 million. Now 28, Swanson made $6 million in 2021 while setting career highs in nearly every offensive category — games (160), home runs (27), RBIs (88), runs (78), doubles (33) — while producing a .248/.311/.449 batting line in the Braves’ World Series-winning campaign.
He got off to a slow start this season, his seventh in the majors, hitting just .216 with one homer in April. But he has hit .315 with five home runs in 34 games since then.
Duvall, who has started 51 games in the outfield this season, was awarded $9.275 million for 2022 — approximately $1 million less than his requested salary of $10.125 million.
The Braves acquired Duvall, now 33, from the Miami Marlins in late July 2021 and reaped the finish of arguably his best season when he posted a career-best 38 homers and a league-leading 113 RBIs. Sixteen of those longballs came in just 55 games with Atlanta and he later blasted two more in the Braves’ World Series triumph over the Houston Astros.
This season has been a struggle for Duvall, as he has hit only .199 with three home runs in 204 plate appearances in one fewer game than his Braves stint in 2021.
Swanson and Duvall were two of five arbitration cases for Atlanta this season. The team has won three of four, saving money vs. third baseman Austin Riley and right-handed reliever Luke Jackson earlier in the year.
Left-handed starter Max Fried will be the club’s final case in 2021, with a quarter-million dollars separating the two sides. The Braves are seeking $6.6 million this season with Fried’s camp looking for $6.85 million.
–Field Level Media