Ranking the 10 worst contracts in the National League Central Division

When talking about what makes a contract "bad, " a few factors come into play, like whether it hampers the team from further spending, whether they are getting the production they paid for, and whether the contract has long-term implications on the franchise.

Not known to be big spenders like the rest of the league, the NL Central has handed out some contracts that are aging horribly as they try to catch up to the rest of the National League.

Here are the ten worst contracts in the NL Central in 2024.

1) Dansby Swanson

Contract Remaining after 2024: Five years, $137M

The Chicago Cubs went on a spending spree in the 2022 offseason and one of those prized free agent signings was shortstop Dansby Swanson.

Swanson was coming off his best season as a pro, posting a .277/.329/.447 slash line with 25 home runs and 95 RBI. He made an All-Star appearance and won the Gold Glove at shortstop in the National League as a member of the Atlanta Braves. The Cubs rewarded him with a seven-year, $177M deal, the fourth-highest free agent contract during that offseason.

In 140 games this season he is slashing .234/.306/.379 with 15 home runs and 62 RBI, while Swanson hasn't been a detriment to the Cubs during his tenure, he certainly has left them wanting more for the contract he was given.

Always a plus-defender at shortstop, Swanson timed up his best offensive season in his contract year and struck a major payday thanks to other shortstops Trea Turner and Xander Bogaerts setting the market with massive contracts.

With his contract running into his late thirties, it's hard to believe that Swanson will be a $25M caliber player at the end of his deal with the Cubs.

His age combined with a drop in production at the plate has the 30-year-old shortstops contract as the worst currently in the NL Central.