Nov 13
Via my contacts at SNY.tv -
The New York Yankees announced today that they have acquired switch-hitting first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher and right-handed pitcher Kanekoa Texeira from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for infielder Wilson Betemit and right-handed pitchers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez.
Analysis on this deal to come later today. In the meantime, as a Yankees fan, how do you feel about this deal?
15 Responses to “Yanks Acquire Swisher”
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November 13th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Although never a great contact hitter, Swisher’s BABIP last year (.251) was considerably down from his career average (.279). This indicates that his numbers should go up somewhat. Also, he always gets his walks, doubles, and decent HR and RBIs. *IF* he plays centerfield, this will be a great move (except for Steve’s Gardner fetish.) I think he played 69 games in CF last year, although I’m not sure what his ratings and such were in CF. Point is, an OF of Damon/Matsui, (an improved) Swisher, and Nady is a big improvement over an OF with Gardner.
That said, if Swisher plays 1b (and this trade makes the Yanks not get Teix) then I do not like this trade.
November 13th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I feel fine
They got a corner OF if Tex signs, a 1b if he doesn’t (I still expect them to push for Tex, tho’)… A nice (better) complement to Nady, if you ask me.
I wouldn’t expect much from Kanekoa, the only thing he has going for him is that he’s from HI
.
Good trade for the Yanks.
November 13th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Update on my post from Pete Abraham:
Swisher is not here to play CF. Cashman made that clear. He’s here to play 1B. Cashman did not close the door to anything else happening (he never does), but it’s pretty evident that they see Swisher playing 1B and having the ability to play LF or RF on occasion.
I hope Cashman is only using this trade and his statements as leverage against Boras/Teix. If this is really the case and Swisher is the full-time 1st baseman, I do not like this trade.
November 13th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I hope Cashman is only using this trade and his statements as leverage against Boras/Teix. If this is really the case and Swisher is the full-time 1st baseman, I do not like this trade.
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I doubt that will be the case. Remember this?
“Bubba Crosby will be our centerfielder in 2006.”
November 13th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
ha raf, i laugh about that situation at least 5 times per year. we heard that line every day for 2.5 months it seemed like. then all of a sudden we had one of the better leadoff hitters/cf’s in the game.
what i like about this trade is that it’s a nice complimentary move. it puts us in a position to put the hammer down this off-season with 1-2 other bigger moves. if this is the second or (hopefully) third biggest deal we make this winter, we are going to have had a big winter.
swisher will upgrade the middle-back end of our lineup, 125 and 127 OPS + in 06 and 07 means he can really do some things with the stick, and this was just somewhat of a down year. the difference in his down year is his on base skills are such that he had an obp .110 above his average. 82, 100, 97 walks last 3 years for a team that has become swing happy is a much needed thing.
November 13th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Well, I love this trade if he ends up at 1B. If Teix moves him to CF, well, is there anything that says he’s anything other than a barely average CF? If his OBP goes back up, he’s a help, and as lefty with some pop, the dimensions of the new stadium will be a help. But he’s always stunk for BA.
If Swisher is pushed to the bench as a part-time OF/PH because Teix signs is he a happy camper for the next three years?
November 13th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I hate this trade if it means we’re not getting Teixeira. Just hate it. Last year it was Morgan Ensberg who was playing first, along with Giambi. And wasn’t Shelley Duncan supposed to play some first too? Why can’t we get someone who doesn’t play the outfield or serve as a utility infielder? A dedicated first baseman. Like Tino. Like Mattingly. Come on, Cashman.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Something else to consider, too – it may be so that Cashman kept saying Bubba Crosby is our CF, but carrying Bubba Crosby has no cost. Twenty two million to Swisher to be a bench player is a lot of moolah, even for the Yanks. I do think that the Yankees regard 1B as settled now – as Abraham posted, three years of Swisher makes sense because he’s gone when Posada or Jeter is ready to take over. Seven years of Teixeira fills up a spot that is going to be needed sooner.
And the fact is that the Yankees need Teixeira less than the Sox do. They may fairly assume that with bounce back years from a couple of hitters, they are just a couple of stud pitchers away from being very competitive. So they are planning to break the big bank for C.C., and maybe the smaller bank for Burnett or Lowe. And last but not least, they may still actually have a budget, and don’t want to sign two players for close to $300 million dollars.
But with Manny gone and Papi possibly on the decline, the Sox need to lock up a big bat pretty badly.
Now so long as the Angels live up to their threats and bow out of Teixeira if he doesn’t accept an offer quick, I think we’ve got a clearer shot.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
But with Manny gone and Papi possibly on the decline, the Sox need to lock up a big bat pretty badly.
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I’m not so sure. IF Papi is actually declining, you are right. But if he has a bounce back year next year, he and A-Rod are almost equals. And, as much as I hate to admit it, Youkilis is probably the 3rd best hitter between the two teams. If Drew can be anywhere near what he was through the first half of last year, the Red Sox have some big sticks. The Yankees can hope for bounce back years, but except for Cano, A-Rod, now Swisher (and maybe Nady), the Yankees are essentially a team in decline. They need new, good, young talent on offense. Teixeira is a great fit.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
the Yankees are essentially a team in decline.
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I meant offensively, players are getting older.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I do think Papi has another big year in him, but I’m talking about long-term replacement for Manny. Teix is definitely it, as far as I am concerned. As for the Yanks, it will be interesting to see who Cashman moves if he ends up going hard for Teix too. Damon, Nady, possibly Matsui?
November 13th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Last year it was Morgan Ensberg who was playing first, along with Giambi. And wasn’t Shelley Duncan supposed to play some first too?
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They were backups, the primary 1b was always Giambi.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Something else to consider, too – it may be so that Cashman kept saying Bubba Crosby is our CF, but carrying Bubba Crosby has no cost. Twenty two million to Swisher to be a bench player is a lot of moolah, even for the Yanks.
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Still, at the least it’s a hedge against Matsui & Damon & Nady & Tex
November 14th, 2008 at 9:14 am
I think we’ve got a clearer shot.
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Except that the Red Sox would still have to move Lowell (and his contract) in order to clear 1B for Teixeira. So it’s not like the Red Sox can swoop in on Teixeira without at least considering how to address Lowell’s likely redundancy at that point.
November 14th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
No where is it written that Lowell has to be moved ahead of time. Theo will deal with it at the proper time and not a moment too soon. Lowell will have nothing to do with whether or not Teixeira accepts the offer Theo makes.