Swisher to Yankees

[RedsoxRockies]

What?

For one, the best teams make use of all possible avenues to acquire talent. Your a Red Sox fan, you should know that.

For two, part of "making your own players" and running a good farm system is to enable you to make these types of deals.

I know, but Hank seems to be trading his prospects too easily, and seems more and more like another free agent/ trade for superstar guy. Yes, I know it is best to use any way possible to gain talent, but they seem to be giving their specs away to easily, and giving up on them. And the ones they do not they handle idioticly, like Joba

[HoustonGM]

I know, but Hank seems to be trading his prospects too easily, and seems more and more like another free agent/ trade for superstar guy.

This was ONE trade, NOT for a superstar, and NOT sending away any top prospects.

I don't know if you've noticed, but the Yankees have been holding on to dear life to their really good prospects. These lower-level guys like Marquez and Nunez are exactly who they should be trading away.

[RedsoxRockies]

This was ONE trade, NOT for a superstar, and NOT sending away any top prospects.

I don't know if you've noticed, but the Yankees have been holding on to dear life to their really good prospects. These lower-level guys like Marquez and Nunez are exactly who they should be trading away.

They traded Tabata to the Pirates, whom I would have kept. That trade was in all a poor one

[Pavelb1]

Swisher is not a .219 hitter. He had a low .249 BABIP. Plus, Swisher's a much better defender than Giambi. Also, he's cheaper. And younger.


Yeah, except that Swisher can hit. This year he had a 92 OPS+, very poor for him and he's likely to bounce back. Melky's career OPS+ is 84.

IMHO...any AB given to Swisher that otherwise could have gone to Giambi, Abreau and even Manny...is a big mistake.

I mean...are we looking at a potential outfield of Damon, Swisher, and Nady?? Are you kidding me? This is what the largest payroll in baseball comes up with?

Just my 2 cents.

[EVEN11323]

Well, this means good bye to all of Swisher's crazy hairdos.

[RickD]

This deal hardly hurts the Yanks Farm System.....they also picked p a minor league prospect. No Swisher had a bad year this year but is younger and cheaper than Giambi and is better at 1B! If they get another 1B player he could be in the OF! Win-Win.

[HoustonGM]

IMHO...any AB given to Swisher that otherwise could have gone to Giambi, Abreau and even Manny...is a big mistake.

I'd be willing to bet that Swisher has a year at least even to that of both Abreu and Giambi in 2009. Giambi hit .247/.373/.502 this year, 128 OPS+. Abreu hit .296/.371/.471, 120 OPS+. Both look nearly exactly like Swisher in 2006 and 2007 (save for Abreu's batting average).

Plus, Swisher is 28 and Abreu is 35/Giambi is 38.

Manny is going to easily outplay all 3 of them, but he'd also cost a ton of money and be a risk long-term, whereas Swisher is cheap and relatively young.

I mean...are we looking at a potential outfield of Damon, Swisher, and Nady?? Are you kidding me? This is what the largest payroll in baseball comes up with??

I think Swisher is likely going to be used at all 3 outfield positions AND first base. Damon and Matsui are both on the old/injury-prone side and are going to need days off, and likely will spend some time on the DL. Having Swisher around is GREAT insurance for that, especially considering he fills the void at first base in the event that the Yankees lose in the Tex sweepstakes.

Swisher is a very good player that had a fluky bad 2007, enabling the Yankees to pick him up on the cheap. He provides great flexibility. It's not like the Yankees gave up anything of much value to get him .

[justanewguy]

I'd be willing to bet that Swisher has a year at least even to that of both Abreu and Giambi in 2009. Giambi hit .247/.373/.502 this year, 128 OPS+. Abreu hit .296/.371/.471, 120 OPS+. Both look nearly exactly like Swisher in 2006 and 2007 (save for Abreu's batting average).

I agree. In fact, I think he'll do better. Swisher was a fantastic hitter until his decline last year. But he's healthy, he's at his prime age, and he is a hell of a lot better than he showed he was in 2008. I have a really good feeling about Swisher in 2009. A player at this age doesn't just "forget" how to hit like he did in '06 and '07. And no matter how bad his hitting is, Swisher gets on base. This guy may actually be a significant upgrade.

Plus, Swisher is 28 and Abreu is 35/Giambi is 38.

And both of them will be overpaid, and both of them are far more likely to succumb to injury.

Manny is going to easily outplay all 3 of them, but he'd also cost a ton of money and be a risk long-term, whereas Swisher is cheap and relatively young.

Swisher is a bargain, considering his potential.

I think Swisher is likely going to be used at all 3 outfield positions AND first base. Damon and Matsui are both on the old/injury-prone side and are going to need days off, and likely will spend some time on the DL. Having Swisher around is GREAT insurance for that, especially considering he fills the void at first base in the event that the Yankees lose in the Tex sweepstakes.

Swisher proved to be great insurance for the White Sox, even in spite of the horribly low batting average. I don't think the Yankees are pursuing Tex, and I'm feeling strongly that this is the Yankees will be making a smart move by avoiding Tex, making Swisher their 1B, and signing CC or making a run at Peavy.

I really like what this move does for the Yankees.

[koolzach1]

I know, but Hank seems to be trading his prospects too easily, and seems more and more like another free agent/ trade for superstar guy. Yes, I know it is best to use any way possible to gain talent, but they seem to be giving their specs away to easily, and giving up on them. And the ones they do not they handle idioticly, like Joba

Lol a Red Sox fan talking about that is really funny... Considering the Yanks and Red Sox have about the same amount of home grown talent as the Yanks... Plus, the Red Sox have also made just as many FA moves (Drew, Lugo, Wake, Dice-K, Okajima etc...), and just as many trades, if not more (Lowell, Beckett, Bay, Varitek, etc...)

Plus, Jeff Marquez only had an upside of a #4 starter at most, Betemit isn't even considered a prospect anymore, just a utility player, and Nunez is nothing special at all. I can name at least 10 other starting pitching prospects that have a higher upside than either Nunez or Marquez (Hughes, Joba, Kennedy, Horne, Brackman, Betances, Heredia, Sanchez, Garcia, Kontos, Aceves, etc...)

[HoustonGM]

Plus, the Yankees got Texeira back who is very similar to Nunez.

[koolzach1]

I agree. In fact, I think he'll do better. Swisher was a fantastic hitter until his decline last year. But he's healthy, he's at his prime age, and he is a hell of a lot better than he showed he was in 2008. I have a really good feeling about Swisher in 2009. A player at this age doesn't just "forget" how to hit like he did in '06 and '07. And no matter how bad his hitting is, Swisher gets on base. This guy may actually be a significant upgrade.



And both of them will be overpaid, and both of them are far more likely to succumb to injury.



Swisher is a bargain, considering his potential.



Swisher proved to be great insurance for the White Sox, even in spite of the horribly low batting average. I don't think the Yankees are pursuing Tex, and I'm feeling strongly that this is the Yankees will be making a smart move by avoiding Tex, making Swisher their 1B, and signing CC or making a run at Peavy.

I really like what this move does for the Yankees.

I'll be pissed if we trade for Swisher just to plug him into 1B and pass on Tex. Tex is the switch hitting, gold glove caliber 1B that we've needed for years, not to mention the guy can absolutely rake.

[Arctic Blast]

Just when it seems the yankees are learning to make their own players, they are going back to the old addictions.

Seriously. A RED SOX fan complaining about another team trading for/signing veteran talent is nothing short of ridiculous.

[RedsoxRockies]

Seriously. A RED SOX fan complaining about another team trading for/signing veteran talent is nothing short of ridiculous.

I am not complaining, just critisizing. I can't wait to watch them all get injured again. and the Red Sox have easily one of the top 5 farm systems, so you can't say they are still exactly like the Yankees. They will sign a few guys, but they are better with their farm

[HoustonGM]

I am not complaining, just critisizing. I can't wait to watch them all get injured again.

Nick Swisher is 28. He's not some old veteran dude.

and the Red Sox have easily one of the top 5 farm systems, so you can't say they are still exactly like the Yankees. They will sign a few guys, but they are better with their farm

Before the 2008 season, Baseball America ranked the Red Sox system 2nd (behind the Rays) and the Yankees system 5th. Keith Law ranked the Red Sox 3 and the Yankees 5.

So, in other words, they are pretty much exactly like the Yankees. Very good team built with homegrown players, trades, and free agents, with a strong farm system as well.

But then again, I haven't the faintest idea why this is something to criticize the Yankees for.

[RickD]

I'll be pissed if we trade for Swisher just to plug him into 1B and pass on Tex. Tex is the switch hitting, gold glove caliber 1B that we've needed for years, not to mention the guy can absolutely rake.

The Yanks have said all along their focus is starting pitching first. As much as I would like to see Tex as a Yank I think the Yanks need to get some major rotation help.