Swisher is a 28 year old switch-hitter who can play first base or any of the outfield positions, and in 2008 he hit .219/.332/.410 with 24 HR and 69 RBI in 153 games with the White Sox.
As far as money is concerned, Swisher is owed $5.3 million in 2009, $6.75 million in 2010 and $9 million in 2011. The Yankees also hold a $10.25 million option for 2012 with a $1 million buyout.
It's a good deal, I'm just surprised it was made so soon. This may mean that the Yankees are not going to go after Mark Teixeira, which would be very surprising to me. Tex would be a perfect fit for this team.
UPDATE: According to Ken Rosenthal the Yankees also recieved AA right-hander Kanekoa Texeira. In 51 games this season with the Winston-Salem Warthogs and Birmingham Barons Texeira went 6-3 with a 1.33 ERA. He struck out 60 and walked 21 in 61 innings pitched. In three minor league season Texeira is 11-5 with a 2.24 ERA. In 144.2 IP he has struck out 149 and walked 49.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Wilson Betemit and Jhonny Nunez will also be going to the White Sox in the deal.
AND ANOTHER: Here is some info from the Yankees official press release about the deal:
"We're excited with the addition of Nick Swisher," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said in a statement. "We feel he has a ton of upside. He's a patient switch-hitter, adds versatility at a number of defensive positions, including first base and the outfield, and will be a positive presence inside the clubhouse."And a little bit about Texeira:
Texeira, 22, was 6-3 with 21 saves and a 1.33 ERA in 51 combined relief appearances with Single-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, ranking second among White Sox Minor Leaguers in saves. He was selected as a Carolina League mid- and postseason All-Star, posting a 3-1 record and a 0.93 ERA with Winston-Salem, while recording 20 saves in 23 opportunities. Over his final 22 appearances with the Single-A club (23.1IP), he did not allow an earned run and held opponents to a .176 batting average (15-for-85).
A native of Maui, Hawai'i, he was originally selected by the White Sox in the 22nd round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft and entered 2008 with the organization's best slider, according to Baseball America. In 113 career Minor League appearances, he has a 12-7 record with 40 saves and a 2.24 ERA, striking out 149 batters in 144.1IP.
36 Comments:
wow, maybe he will play cf? and only marquez. switchhitter, with alot of ability. i like this move, especially if tex was staying in la all along, we can still get though.
It's a good deal as far as what they had to give up. I just hope this doesn't mean they aren't going after Teixeira. Now, if he doesn't want to come to NY at all, then this move makes a lot of sense.
Classic case of striking while the iron is hot. Swisher has put up good numbers in his career, except last season. To deal him only for Marquez is a steal. I still think they can go after Tex here.
Most importantly, Swisher is a GRINDER.... may strike out a lot, but this guy gives his all and loves the game. We need as many of those guys we can get. Great move.
this could just mean that they want another option for CF, if they want gardner and melky to stay in the minors. I really want them still go after Teixeira who would fit perfectly with this team. But I do agree, if he doesn't want to come to NY, then this great.
I hope he plays center so we can still get Tex.
swish will prb put up giambi like numbers but with much better d. .250ish 30-35 hr's 90+ rbi with more than 100 k's per year.
Do you feel it means no Tex and they put a ton of money into pitching, and maybe Manny? I think we are going to get manny
anon, if we could trade matsui..
The Yankees did get Texeira...
Kanekoa Texeira that is. He's a AA right-hander and he was included in the deal as well as Swisher. There may be other Yankees in the deal also.
so we prob wont get teixeira, but we got texeira. he looks like he could be pretty good.
we were thinking on the same page greg
mlbtraderumors.com has some more news form ken rosenthal:
yankees also gave up betemit and jhonny nunez
THANK GOD BETEMIT IS GONE!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I'm very happy to see Betemit gone. He gave this team nothing.
Glad to see Betemit gone as well. Marquez for Swisher is a good deal for the Yankees. I see this guy as an insurance policy if a deal for Texiera falls through. If they do get Tex, Swisher can still fill in and play OF as needed, if not, he's your everday 1B guy. Good deal all the way around.
Now, we all want [Mark] Texeira. But let's just say we don't get him. Swisher switch-hits, plays a good 1st base, and has a pretty big bat, just like Texeira. It wouldn't be that bad if Swisher becomes the starting 1st-basemen.
As long as Swisher isn't the 1B, I'm perfectly happy with this move. If he is... AWFUL MOVE
Uh... Manny and Teixeira would cost exactly the same. Give me Teixeira please
Here's what Peter Abraham had to say after speaking with Cashman about the deal:
UPDATE, 4:39 p.m.: Cashman just said that if the season started today, Swisher is the 1B. … The more I think about this deal, the more it makes sense. Swisher has three years remaining on his deal – right about the time the Yankees could need first base as an option for Jeter and/or Posada.
Given the value Cashman places on roster flexibility, it was always hard to see them adding huge deals for two players this winter. Teixeira is an attractive player but at what cost?
UPDATE, 4:43 p.m: Cashman just said Swisher, in their mind, is more of a 1B and corner OF and only would played CF in an emergency. He’s their 1B, folks. They didn’t pick up a $22 million bench guy.
I wonder if Swisher is just keeping 1B warm for Miranda or Jesus Montero in a few years? Signing Mark T would seem to block Montero's path to the big leagues...assuming he's not going to be a catcher at the big league level.
Swisher had the lowest batting average among players with qualifying number of at bats, in the LEAGUE. I suppose he has (way) more upside than Betemit though.
I am with you, Greg. I hope the Yankees still pursue Teixeira, though Swisher comes much cheaper ($5+ million in 2009, $6.75 million in 2010, and $9 million in 2011). I like Swisher's glove at first and he has good power. He's also patient, but needs to cut down the K's (132/season the last four years).
Derek is exactly right about Swisher being a grinder, and one who hustles at all times. I don't see Swisher in CF. I watched a good deal of White Sox baseball, and Swisher is mediocre in center.
Amen, Liam. I won't miss Betemit at all.
Anon
I would say I'm someone who would say that I like the prospects and everything, but I must pose this question. Who would you rather have?
A) A proven, top-caliber 1B who plays GG defense, age 28
OR
B) An unproven prospect, played in low-A ball in 2008, no guarentee of ever making it to the majors
I'll take A without hesitation. I want Montero to make it and everything, but there's no guarentee he'll ever make it to the majors. Teixeira, on the other hand, has made it to the majors and is amongst the best at his position. I'll take Teixeira
And screw any "cost efficiency" methods. These are the Yankees. They have plenty of money to get what they need without having to go with "cost efficient" alternatives
I'm not sold on cost-efficiency either, jeteristheman (and Jeter is The Man). The Yankees have $90 million coming off the books. I have advocated their making a strong EARLY push for Teixeira to make the Angels show their hand right away, and for the Yankees to maybe show commitment to a terrific two-way player before the Angels do. My point was just that the Yankees probably like getting a guy with a decent glove with some power and patience at a lower price. I don't think that should be their move at first base. But it just may be what they do for that reason.
http://heartlandpinstripes.wordpress.com/
Hey, I agree with you Jason (sorry if I came off the wrong way). It's just... considering this trade could mean passing up Teixeira just has me in a bad mood all around. I respect people's opinions but it frustrates me that the Yankees could be employing a cost efficiency approach. It's sickening to me
I think right now Swisher is a great backup plan in case they don't get Tex. He grinds and has a good ego.
At this point i belive that Tex will go back to the Angeles. Trust me, the yankees will not blow Texiera away with a ton of money like they will with Sabathia. Hopefully the Yankees will put in a good offer but if the angles go over the yankees offer then dont expect a bidding war.
Jeteristheman, no sweat dude. No sweat. I understand and sympathize. You didn't come across harsh at all. I'm cautiously optimistic on the move. I don't see Swisher with a .219 AVG/.332 OBP next year. Those should go up. The guy also hits the long ball and draws lots of walks, good characteristics for the Yankees who need offense, and to replace the patience of Giambi, if not Abreu too. But the K's are way too high. Plus, I'm with you on Teixeira. My gut told me that the Angels would look to keep him, that they didn't want a two-month rental after having traded Kotchman. It would be tough to wrench him away from the Angels, but I'd give it a good shot.
Swisher in pinstripes (and it's not all bad; he's better at first defensively than Giambi) probably means tons of cash for pitching. That wouldn't be the worst thing, as long as they get Sabathia. If they don't and they passed on a hard sell to Teixeira, that won't look good at all.
http://heartlandpinstripes.wordpress.com/
A few things to remember: Teixeira is from Baltimore, he wants come back to the east, and his childhood idol was Don Mattingly. So who knows, maybe he wants to be a Yankee. I guess I got myself worked up a bit in the aftermath of the trade, because now the more I think of it, the more I like it.
When Heyman reports what he reported tonight, one thing to remember is that it's not like Cashman is telling Heyman that. It's speculation. I don't buy into that.
All in all, I guess the Yankees chances are as good as ever for him. If it comes down to Anaheim, Boston, and the Yankees, I can't see the Yankees letting Boston outbid them. Anaheim? Maybe, but no way with Boston.
With the money the Yankees have this off-season , I don't really think they need to sacrifice pursuing Teixeira to get pitching. They can address both. And Swisher is an upgrade over Brett Gardner, plain and simple. So all in all, good trade and the prospects on getting Teixeira I'll say remain the same.
I guess I got worked up over nothing. Nothing new for me ;-)
Jeteristheman,
"And Swisher is an upgrade over Brett Gardner, plain and simple."
I wouldn't get your hopes up about Swisher playing in center. At least I wouldn't if you believe what Cashman said.
"When Heyman reports what he reported tonight, one thing to remember is that it's not like Cashman is telling Heyman that. It's speculation. I don't buy into that."
What did Heyman report tonight? Are you talking about his interview with Francesa?
As someone who lives in the Midwest and therefore sees a lot of White Sox games, Swisher is not the CF for the Yankees. I'm not saying he's a turd, just that he's not the guy who should be playing a big CF/LCF in Yankee Stadium. That should either be Gardner or Melky. Swisher with a bounce-back season will be a nice addition to the Yanks' lineup, and he's a good teammate and hustle guy. Those are valuable intangibles. His power numbers make him a Nady-type, though he's not nearly as good with RISP/men on--.221/.238 career. But regarding defense, he has OK speed and lots of hustle. Those can't atone for the kind of speed and judgment required to man center in Yankee Stadium. Personally, I think Gardner gets first crack at center, primarily because he's excellent defensively and, with some tutelage, will be a nightmare on the base paths if he can hit .265 or better. If and when the Yankees get Gardner to use his lower body to generate some gap power, look for double-digit triples from Gardner if healthy. I think he's the guy, but he must hit. The Yankees cannot, absolutely cannot have someone scraping .200 in center. That's a production position. One can be low in power numbers as long as one is high in stolen bases and OBP, and good defensively. Swisher doesn't fit that. They signed him to play first, and maybe some left/right field, in my opinion.
http://heartlandpinstripes.wordpress.com/
Nick Swisher?
Isn't he the guy whose bat snapped at the handle when Wang struck out in U.S. Cellular Field this season?
It appears that Swisher is good friends with CC. Check out this pic that Peter Abraham posted on his blog. This can't hurt our chances at signing the big lefty.
This is a good move; I don't think that we want to get in a bidding war with LAA or BOS over an easy to fill position not to mention that he is a Boras player.
Jeteristheman
Good point about which 1B do you want, but what are you saying? If it was up to you we would've never brought up a young and unproven Jeter, Bernie, Mariano, Posada, Soriano (he got us A-Rod), Wang, Pettitte and Joba. I'm not going to say here that Montero will have a better career than Teixeira but for the contract that he is going to demand between 7-10 yrs I prefer taking my chances with the kid and if he doesn't work out by then (2-3 yrs from now) 1B like Howard, Pujols, A. Gonzalez even Fielder or we could use the position to move one of the aged player we have right now to 1B.
I know that a lot of fans are in love with Teixeira because he is the best available position player and like I said before if 1-2 of the other 1B I mentioned earlier were FA we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
7-10 yr deals are for the best player at that position not best player available.
Eliezer,
Besides Pujols there isn't another first baseman I'd rather have on the Yankees over Teixeira. Fielder and Howard don't play defense at all.
Greg
Fair enough.
What did Heyman report tonight? Are you talking about his interview with Francesa?
He had a quick little post saying that the Swisher trade would likely keep them out of the Teixeira sweepstakes.
Good point about which 1B do you want, but what are you saying?
What I'm saying is that Teixeira is one of the top 1B in baseball, age 28 with GG defense. I don't see how they can pass that up. They have the money... spend it
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