The Chicago Cubs have continued to be one of the league's hottest teams, cementing themselves atop the National League Central and trailing only the Atlanta Braves in the NL in win percentage. Still, the franchise has dealt with a handful of frustrations, with a familiar theme being near the top of the list, with shorstop Dansby Swanson remaining an offensive inconsistency. The shortstop is currently hitting .213 and has already struck out 29 times in the 2026 season.
While the defensive performance remains steady, it doesn't wipe away the frustration with a veteran paid to be among the league's best at the position. Chicago handed Swanson a seven-year deal worth $177 million with the expectation that Swanson would perform at the offensive level he did during his tenure as an Atlanta Brave.
With the Braves, Swanson hit .255 over seven seasons and helped push the Braves on their 2021 World Series run, hitting two homers to help win it all. This was the player the Cubs believed they were signing, and instead have ended up with a defensive shortstop struggling to consistently hit over the Mendoza line.
This has bred an obvious level of frustration as the Cubs continue to cement themselves as clear World Series contenders. Swanson's offense matching expectations would be the final missing piece for Chicago. The infielder doesn't need to put up elite numbers, but simply offer a level of consistency beyond current performance.
Cubs Can't Hide Frustration as Dansby Swanson's Offensive Struggles Continue
Swanson has given reason to believe that better days are still ahead with a resume of an incredibly streaky hitter. Chicago simply needs the shortstop to find one of these hot streaks and ride it to an improved 2026 season. This was a piece of Swanson's tenure in Atlanta, with extended hot streaks allowing Swanson a higher level of confidence at the plate and turning in a more consistent season.
The most recent example of this came in the 2022 season when Swanson hit .277 and drove in 96 runs. Turning the clock back even a bit further, Swanson hit .274 in a COVID-shortened 2020 season and was a consistent source of offense for the Braves.
What has happened to this version of the shortstop since coming to Chicago remains a bit of a mystery. Swanson simply hasn't been the offensive producer the Cubs need, and that has become glaring in a season when almost everything else is falling Chicago's way.
Fans simply are reduced to hoping that something clicks as Swanson remains a liability at the bottom of the lineup. It is worth noting that in the 2025 season, May was by far Swanson's most productive month, with the veteran hitting .293 and driving in 15. This is what Chicago's offense needs to become truly scary and catch the Braves and claim the top spot in the National League.
More Chicago Cubs News and Rumors:
Add us as a preferred source on Google