ESPN: Yanks acquire Swisher

November 13, 2008 by Benjamin Kabak 291 Comments

ESPN.com baseball scribe Jerry Crasnick is reporting that the Yankees have acquired Nick Swisher in a trade with the White Sox. The Yanks have sent at least Jeff Marquez to Chicago. It is unclear if anyone else will be included in this deal.

According to Ken Rosenthal, the White Sox will send Kanekoa Teixeira to the Yanks while Wilson Betemit & Jhonny Nunez are heading to Chicago. Teixeira, not the one I hope the Yanks land before the winter is out, put up some good numbers in relief this year but at the A level.

Right now, this acquisition is a great move for the Yanks’ roster. While Mike predicted it early last week, Swisher’s role on the 2009 Yankees is still up in the air, and that is perfect. He gives the Yanks a lot of roster flexibility. He could be in the center field mix; he could be one of the corner outfielders (and thus we would be waving farewell to Bobby Abreu); he could wind up at first base. I’d still, of course, rather see Mark Teixeira land there.

Swisher, 28, has been in the league for five years and is due, according to Cot’s baseball Contracts, $5.3 million in 2009, $6.75 million in 2010 and $9 million in 2011. His contract includes an option in 2012 for $10.25 million with a $1 million buyout.

Swisher had a down year last, hitting just .219 but still managed a .332 OBP and a .410 SLG. As Mike noted last week, his numbers suggest a season of bad luck. Swisher is a power threat and an on-base machine who gives the Yanks some much-needed youth.

Marquez is a 24-year-old right-hander with some pedestrian MiLB peripherals. While the sinker-slider specialist was once on BA’s Top 10 list for the Yanks, he hasn’t made the steps the experts expected and doesn’t project very well right now in the Bigs. It’s hard not to love this trade.

Update by Mike (4:15): In case you don’t feel like reading back through the post, the deal is Swisher & Kanekoa Texeira for Marquez, Betemit and Jhonny Nunez. Good deal. The Depth Chart has been updated.

X-Man(Angel)

WTF!! NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! only for Maqruez?!
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  It was actually a three for one swap. They gave us Nick Swisher, and we gave them Jeffrey Marquez, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Marques Colston.
  
  Still though, that’s a steal. Gabriel Garcia Marquez can’t hit a breaking ball to save his life, and we would have had to have bought Colston out of his football deal.
  
  Nicely done, CashMoney.
  - TheLastClown
    
    At least Gabriel can finally end his 100 Years of Solitude, finally find some playing time….
- http://footballstu.blogs.sportsline.com/ Stu H
  
  I have to agree.
  
  According to BP, Swisher’s BABIP dropped 52 points for no good reason. He’s a great candidate for a rebound next year.
- brandon
  
  hi: im from chicago (granted, im a cubs fan) and i just wanted to let you know in addition to being a terrible baseball player, nick swicsher is a loser. have fun watching his interviews when, even though he is 0 for the week, he acts like he his mickey mantle. Doesn’t sound like you gave up much for him, and i never complain if somebody scams the sox…but for your sake I hope you aren’t giving up the real tex. Oh, and good luck getting wood. no chance!
  - FIPster Doofus
    
    Fail.
Jay CT

For this low of a price, you can’t beat the addition. I am still not a fan of Swisher though
http://liberalmusings.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos

WOOT! That’s all it took? Really?
Chip

JUST Jeff Marquez?!?!? That’s highway robbery. Even if it’s just Marquez and a reliever, wow, just wow
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

OMG Cashman is teh suck.
- Cam
  
  Nice job predicting this Mike. Maybe Cash saw your post!
Reggie C.

WTF ??

WOW .. .is this for real?
http://salarydump.wordpress.com Joltin’ Joe

JUST GOT A HUGE BONER
- Chip
  
  Are you suggesting we acquire Wood now?
  - http://salarydump.wordpress.com Joltin’ Joe
    
    well played, chip. lol
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  JUST GOT A HUGE BONER
  
  It’s actually an optical illusion, it’s the pleats on these pants, it’s very unflattering… in the crotchal… region. I’m taking them back today, to the pants… store.
  
  I’m just gonna walk this situation off, if you don’t mind.
  - Nady Nation
    
    Nothing to see here people.
    
    Don’t act like you’re not impressed
Graeme

You guys nailed it. Good work.
E

the guy hit 200 w an avg obp. Let’s relax and not start building monuments
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  FUCK THAT I DEMAND A MONUMENT FOR THE GREAT SWISHER HEIST OF ’08 IMMEDIATELY.
  
  Somebody call Turner Construction and tell them to leave room out there today.
Will (the other one)

Wow. WOW. So the obvious question becomes, is this the end of us and Tex?
- Bruno
  
  Probably
- Will (the other one)
  
  Let me clarify. The REAL question is where we plan on Swish playing–is he our first base “solution,” or is he destined for the outfield and this has nothing at all to do with the eventual installment at the first bag?
  - Jack
    
    This in no way will stop us from signing Tex, if that’s what you’re asking.
    - nick blasioli
      
      bull s–t……….
  - Larry
    
    Cash says he wants a “real” first baseman. Not sure if Swish qualifies.
Bruno

WooHoo! That just made my BORING day at work “dealable”!
http://justinyates.wordpress.com justin

It’s a steal if it was an outright trade for Marquez, the farm has enough depth to lose him but…Swisher? If he can hit the way he’s supposed to then great…if he continues to regress as he did last year then…why not just pay Texeira?
- Chip
  
  We did just gain some leverage in the Texiera front. If not, you could run a lineup of Swisher and Damon covering left/center field with Nady in right. Wouldn’t be horrible. This is genius if Swisher reverts to form
- http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/01/18/jeter_ap/index.html steve (different one)
  
  who says they won’t?
  
  Swisher plays all 3 OF positions too (though CF is a stretch).
  
  i actually like Lanny’s idea of using Swisher as a super-sub. giving him 500 AB’s in LF, RF, 1B, and DH (though if they got Teixeira, he won’t need much rest).
  - Jay CT
    
    If this takes them out of the Teixera sweepstakes, its a terrible move. Provided he is used as an OF/super sub, I am all for it. Please, lets not make Swisher out to be Teixera. Suprising that they wanted speed, and we didn’t include Brett Gardner…
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/01/18/jeter_ap/index.html steve (different one)

if this is just Marquez and spare parts, this is awesome.
- Reggie C.
  
  spare parts..
  
  Lets see who this is … what if its Gardner?
  - A.D.
    
    What if its Melky…
Colombo

DAMN!!!!

Cash-money is back with a vengence baby!!!

Now, my only question is did we trade for him to play first or center?
- Reggie C.
  
  If the Yanks make Swisher the 1B, its a sure sign that Manny will become the next target. Swisher could rebound to a season reminiscent of his ’07 campaign, and that’d be a welcomed addition to the offense.
- Chip
  
  Both? I like the fact that we have
  
  Swisher as LF/CF/RF/1B
  Nady as LF/RF/1B
  Damon as LF/CF
  Gardner as LF/CF/RF/pinch runner
  Miranda/Texiera? as 1B
  
  Even if we don’t sign Texiera, that’s a lot of flexibility for the platoon-loving Girardi
  - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
    
    Change the CF next to Damon’s name to a DH and I’m with you…
Mike

Not a huge Swisher fan, but no big risk here and upside is much higher.

Good move by cashman

Who knows could be a stop-gab at first, LF or if need be in CF. Give great versatility to the Yanks. I wouldn’t say no to Tex, but reduces the liklihood dramatically. Plus pricetag is not nearly as high! More money for pitching!!!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/01/18/jeter_ap/index.html steve (different one)

i have a feeling we are going to not be happy with whatever else went with Marquez, b/c right now this is simply too good to be true.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  It’s Mariano Rivera.
jersey

heyman reporting sum otha minor leaguers and betemit and swish gun playu alot of first base
TurnTwo

i think yankees fans are going to lvoe the way this guy plays ball. good attitude to have in the clubhouse, too.

for the price, certainly worth the risk.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/01/18/jeter_ap/index.html steve (different one)

Betemit also involved.

i can definitely live with that.
donttradecano

heyman said hell play first
- Chip
  
  I don’t know if Heyman can really know that. Might just be the Yankees saying that so they can bargain Tex down
  - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
    
    True. Right now, he’s Tex insurance. When Tex signs here, he becomes Nady/Damon/Gardner insurance.
    - Reggie C.
      
      I think you start Swisher before you start Gardner.
      - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
        
        Depends on how Gardner looks.
jersey

i dont understand why people like mike and heyman hate gardner comparing him to bubba friggin crosby… i mean seriously id love swish at first and gardner in center… as long as we get cc and burnett or lowe…
- Larry
  
  Still missing 200 rbis from Abeau/Giambi. I think that is the Francesa rub and he is not wrong there.
daneptizl

LMAO WTF……. WO0000TTTT THE HOTSOVEEEE IS HEATING UUUPPPP lmao… and the Twinkies were hating on Marquez…
X-Man(Angel)

Swihsher 1b!!
Reggie C.

This might be the prelude to a TRADE people!

Swisher + Hughes for Jake Peavy. Anyone think its possible??
- Chip
  
  Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Padres would never take on the financial commitment to Swisher when they’re trying to get rid of Peavy because of the money
- http://liberalmusings.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos
  
  no. cano > swisher
- Reggie C.
  
  I hear you Chip.
  
  It doesn’t have to be Jake Peavy who now becomes a trade target. It could be Adrian Gonzalez or Matt Holliday. All of a sudden the Yankees now have this chip who can attract alot of rebuilding teams or teams looking to trade an eventual FA.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  This might be the prelude to a TRADE people!
  Swisher + Hughes for Jake Peavy. Anyone think its possible??
  
  Nurse, did you administer the 500 CC’s of Olanzapine to Reggie every 4 hours as instructed?
  - Reggie C.
    
    fair enough.
    - vinnie
      
      im thinking swisher cano and veras for peavy. but i like where u heads at reggie. i didnt even think it could be a prelude.
      
      lets make a blockbuster for a gonz.
      
      how about
      
      peavy adrian gonz. for cano veras swisher kennedy melky and hughes…
      
      still not enough…
      - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
        
        im thinking swisher cano and veras for peavy…
        
        Stop thinking. Altogether.
Mike

I hear we are getting a AA prospect too… looks like an Asian coming this way.

Cant be worse then Kei I”steal all your money”waga
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Yeah, and he’s named Texeira. Heh.
Bill R

WOW! THIS JUST MADE MY DAY!
Chip

We got low-A pitcher from White Sox in Kanekoa Texeira. From what I can tell, nothing more than a throw-in but we’ll see
doty

I don’t get it… I rather have giambi back for 1 yr then this guy for another 3-4 yrs… Giambi’s numbers are better than swisher’s
- Chip
  
  Swisher is younger, cheaper, more athletic, in his prime and can play all the outfield spots. Much better for us than Giambi
- jersey
  
  giambi is like 56 man cmon… swisher’s mediocre year is equal numbers to giambi but he has the potential to put up a 270 35 100 year..
- Mike
  
  Swish is younger and cheaper and not that much worse offensively but much better defensively
  
  Good trade
- Reggie C.
  
  Heyman is saying that Swisher will likely be playing 1B.
  
  Boras is not a happy man today.
- Reggie C.
  
  Heyman is saying that Swisher will likely be playing 1B.
  
  Boras is not a happy man today.
  - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
    
    http://media.wiley.com/product.....045221.jpg
    - Reggie C.
      
      how does it read?
    - radnom
      
      Um, still.
      Even if we just used this as leverage and plan play him in the OF and make a run at Tex, Boras would still not be a happy man. He just lost a lot of leverage.
http://liberalmusings.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos

Apparently we also got Texeira: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....pid=444427
Manimal

I saw the title and I was like AW shit, how many Top tier players did we trade. Just Marquez? Are the sox crazy? This is a great deal. Of course, time will tell.
Rafi

Mike, what can you tell us about the minor leaguer headed back to the Yanks? Some reliever name Texeira(close, I know but not the same). His #’s look very good.
- http://liberalmusings.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos
  
  FB, CRV, CHG, 3/4 arm angle, great K rate and good GB rate
Bruno

DH-Damon
SS-Jeter
1B-Tex
3B-A-Rod
RF-Swish
LF-Nady
C-Posada
2B-Cano
CF-Gardner

Matsui
Melky
Ransom?
Molina
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  I was just discussing this with Joe. I went:
  
  1-DH-Damon-L
  2-SS-Jeter-R
  3-RF-Swisher-S
  4-3B-ARod-R
  5-1B-Teixeira-S
  6-2B-Cano-L
  7-C-Posada-S
  8-LF-Nady-R
  9-CF-Gardner-L
  
  Deal Matsui to Seattle for a $20 Starbucks gift card.
  - Jack
    
    That’s one thing I’ve always wondered. If Cash were to trade him for the card, who gets the coffee?
  - Andy In Sunny Daytona
    
    If Swisher hits third for the Yankees next year, then they are in trouble.
    - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
      
      Have faith, young padawan. Faith cannot be rewarded if it is not first bestowed.
      
      Besides, look at everybody in front of and behind him. That’s sick..
Mike

Here is the kid we are getting…

looks good low walks to strikeouts and era is very nice

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....pid=444427
- jersey
  
  judging from his numbers id guess hes a fastball changeup guy…righties hit him to a 256 clip and lefties hit 189 off him…sounds like maybe he lacks a pitch to get righties out…but looks to be a little better than a throw in considering age and numbers
- jibs
  
  Texeria has a low 90s fastball and a fantastic slider. Definitely a solid bullpen prospect.
http://www.thepolicyboy.blogspot.com Otter

You guys are going to love it when Swisher does one of three things:
1) Walks with a runner on second setting up the double play.
2) Looks at strike three.
3) Pops up, slams his bat, and jobs to first shaking his head killing another rally.

Remember, DeWayne Wise was starting over Swisher at the end of the season. DeWayne Wise.
- A.D.
  
  So Jason Giambi… only he makes less money, and probably is a better fielder?
- daneptizl
  
  Remember… Swisher>Melky
- http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/01/18/jeter_ap/index.html steve (different one)
  
  You guys are going to love it when Swisher does one of three things:
  1) Walks with a runner on second setting up the double play.
  
  wow, are you actually suggesting this is bad?
  - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
    
    He’s clogging up the basepaths.
    
    Walks are the second worst thing you can possibly do in baseball, besides baby-raping.
    - Thirty5Thirty6
      
      WHAT!?!
      
      Baby Raping moved up to number 1!?!
  - http://www.thepolicyboy.blogspot.com Otter
    
    Just wait. Go to the White Sox message boards a year ago, they were pumped about everything the trade. We got Swisher! He’s cheap! He walks!
    
    Well that’s the only think that Swish does: Walk. When you can’t hit, walks aren’t that useful eh? Since you don’t want a guy who can’t hit at the top of the order.
    
    Swisher looks great on paper, but by July you’ll all be hoping that Marquez blew out his arm or something because you’ll feel that you over paid for him.
    
    This is a guy who had one good year (2006)… I wouldn’t get too excited.
    
    Plus just watch Cooper turn Marquez into Floyd 2.0.
    - rbizzler
      
      Wait for me over on those Sox message boards, I’ll be right there.
      
      Shame on you, Hawk said Swish was a ‘gamer.’ “YES!”
    - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
      
      This is a guy who had one good year (2006)… I wouldn’t get too excited.
      
      Actually, he’s a guy who only had one bad year, 2008. And even that bad year wasn’t that bad.
      
      ’05 (24): .236/.322/.446 101+ meh, okay
      ’06 (25): .254/.372/.493 125+ great
      ’07 (26): .262/.381/.455 127+ also great
      ’08 (27): .219/.332/.410 92+ subpar but not lineup-destroying
      - nmc
        
        and by “lineup-destroying” you mean “Melky Cabrera”
    - Steve S
      
      Wow I just got the chills. Its like an urban myth- a white sox fan. Who knew?
      - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
        
        President Barack Obama says hello.
        
        Jack
        
        Hi.
        
        Steve S
        
        Find me another one. And after Guiliani last year, I dont think politicians can be sports fans or at least ones that I like.
        
        http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
        
        Well, unlike Giuliani, who’s a “fan” of whatever team is liked by whatever constituency he happens to be within earshot of, Barack’s White Sox passion seems legit, to me. He’s even gone on record bashing Cubs fans, which probably validates that.
        
        If he was just an opportunist, he’d have been a Cubs fan – that’s more politically expedient in that town.
        
        “You go to Wrigley Field, you have a beer, beautiful people up there,” Obama said, according to transcripts released by ESPN. “People aren’t watching the game. It’s not serious. White Sox, that’s baseball.”
- jersey
  
  id bet money that were going to get the oak town swisher you know the one kenny traded a few good prospects for…not the swisher that didnt fit in well with ozzie’s team…swish got hated on by ozzie becuz they had old stiffs who were slow on the roster so swish was lumped into that category by ozzie which evolved into his benching for the faster more athletic wise… but trust me swish was not the problem on that roster.
  - http://www.thepolicyboy.blogspot.com Otter
    
    No the problem with the White Sox last year was that Carlos Quentin broke his wrist and Paul Konerko sucked ass. Swisher didn’t help matters and Wise was starting because he was out playing Swisher by the end of the year. No White Sox fan would blame Swisher for last season only going to the ALDS, but I don’t think many of us (Sox fans) are sad to see him go.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  By the way, Otter, I loved you in Animal House.
  - http://www.thepolicyboy.blogspot.com Otter
    
    Thanks. It was a fun time. Bet you never looked at the cucumber the same say.
A.D.

if Betemit goes, pretty much guarantees Ransom the utility infielder spot… not bad
Infamous

Sox will also receive Wilson Betemit and pitching prospect Jhonny Nunez.
- http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/01/18/jeter_ap/index.html steve (different one)
  
  wow, cashman sure looks dumb for trading Alberto Gonzalez for Nunez….not.
  - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
    
    Yes, but if we were giving them Marquez-Betemit-Gonzo instead of Marquez-Betemit-Nunez, I’m sure we would have gotten WIlliams to throw in John Danks and Alexei Ramirez as well.
    
    Cashman fucked up again.
    - jsbrendog (rocks)
      
      FIRE CASHMAN!!11!!!111!!!!!!
Thirty5Thirty6

Betemit and Jhonny Nunez heading back to ChiTown as well.
A.D.

Looks like its Marquez, Betemit & Jhonny Nunez (who pitched quite well after coming over) for Swish & the japanese reliever… not bad at all
http://liberalmusings.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos

They’re also getting Betemit and Jhonny Nunez. I can live with that.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....quire.html
A.D.

Yankees Grit factor has significantly increased, have to figure this pretty much signals that Abreu isn’t coming back
- Mike
  
  Grit factor…
  can you say paul o’neil, scott brosius type player…i like
daneptizl

That’s why it’s good to sign guys like Nunez…
- A.D.
  
  Actually they traded Alberto Gonzalez for him at the break last year
- jersey
  
  i think we traded for nunez
- daneptizl
  
  Yea, my bad I confused him with Perez…
pat

ok pretty easy trivia question, how is this related to randy johnson?
- Thomas
  
  Easy. They both play Major League Baseball and are American.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.
  
  The former attorney general, of course.
  - pat
    
    YOU WIN PRETZEL
Thomas

So should we play him in the OF and go after Tex or play Swisher at 1b and try to add Manny?

Also remember Swisher may have that hot girlfriend.
- jersey
  
  NO manny! atleast not from my point of view. i say we get in the running for teix but wit swish on board theres no sense of urgency which can only help us in discussions…. id like to kno swish’s fielding rate on each of his positions….
  - Thomas
    
    Going only by RF and fielding % he is average at first, a little below average in right, above average in left, and poor at center.
    - A.D.
      
      Probably better than Giambi & Abreu at 1b & RF
    - greg
      
      yeah make sure to decide who is a good fielder by using fielding percentage. very good metric.
http://mvn.com/milb-yankees Eric

I’m stunned. Considering what the Sox gave up for Swisher (Sweeny, G. Gonzalez, and de los Santos), you would have thought that they wouldn’t be selling low on him.
- jersey
  
  thats because kenny williams gets a lil more hype then he should.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  They’re trying to accommodate the roster makeup wishes of Ozzie Guillen.
  
  Which, of course, is batshit crazy.
- http://www.thepolicyboy.blogspot.com Otter
  
  Sweeny doesn’t hit for power, Gio doesn’t seem like he has major league stuff, and de los Santos blew out his arm. Everyone lost that trade.
ko

I commend the Yankees on getting Swisher in a salary dump by the White Sox. It looks like they are willing to take on salary to improve their depth. I’m presuming that they’re not looking at this guy as a starter because he would only be a mediocre one.
- Reggie C.
  
  I agree he’s not an All-star , like Giambi was in his hey-day, but you can’t say that Swisher hasn’t produced like an above-average major leaguer in 2006 and 2007. That’s obviously not that long ago. Swisher’s ’08 season could be argued to be akin to the year Cano endured. He simply never got on track.
  
  Swisher is a much better player than what he showed last year.
Brian

Think Cody Ransom may have a spot to fight for in S.T.?
- Reggie C.
  
  I think he slides right into the 40 man easily with Betimet get traded. Ransom looks like the new utility man.
  - pat
    
    i dont think swish can play the other 3 IF positions so handsome cody will prob be our utility guy
Brandon

I’m sorry, I dont get this at all. Why Swisher? Giambi was 10 times better than Swisher, and Swisher is a crappy hitter. Unless this is part of a bigger plan, and we turn around and ship him off elsewhere, this makes no sense. While I am happy that Betemit is out, we are now out a utility man. Honestly, this is just a move that makes no sense.
- jersey
  
  another person blinded by giambi’s jack daniels made goggles….swish will have a better year than giambi next year
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.
  
  He’s only a crappy hitter if you look at last year in a vacuum. Why do some people have a hard time looking at a 28-year-old’s stats from the year before?
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  Apparently, getting a switch hitter who plays 4 positions (at which we currently have 4 big question marks), works the count, gets on base, has a career OPS+ of 112 and is fairly young and under contract at reasonable rates for the immediate future for three guys we were probably never going to use for any meaningful purpose is now a “move that makes no sense.”
  
  Wonderful.
  - Larry
    
    Hey, we all complained that we had no productive bench last year. This is a welcome change.
- Mike Pop
  
  Dude are you serious Brandon ? Cmon man this is an absolute steal for this time being… I got an idea.. Sign Nick Punto and we have a good utility man again
- whozat
  
  “Giambi was 10 times better than Swisher”
  
  I mean, if you ignore defense and positional flexibility, he was.
  
  This does several things:
  1) Tolerable backup plan (with some Miranda sprinkled in?) if Tex gets a ludicrous offer somewhere else and they have to walk away
  2) If they sign Tex, if gives them flexibility in the OF so that they don’t have to leave Gardner/Melky in CF all year if they’re horrendous — or they can trade Nady or Damon or Melky or Swish partway through the season if there’s a crush for playing time
  - Mike Pop
    
    Got your idea but no way they deal Swish cuz Damon and Nady are both FA’s
    - A.D.
      
      on that note they can use Swish presence to negotiate with corner outfielders next year when everyone departs.
- Brian
  
  This makes me think Cash will deal Igawa, some way, somehow.
  - Brian
    
    oops, wasn’t replying
- http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/01/18/jeter_ap/index.html steve (different one)
  
  While I am happy that Betemit is out, we are now out a utility man.
  
  seriously?
  
  of all the things to be concerned about, this is what you are worried about?
  
  i liked Betemit as the utility man. i did.
  
  but it’s not like utility guys are impossible to find.
- http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
  
  You’re from LoHud, aren’t you?
Mike

Any chance anyone has heard Roy Halladay could be available?

Forget Peavy, lets find some way to get the Doc south of the border…
- radnom
  
  Why would they trade him to us?
Chris

More importantly than getting Swisher, the Yanks get rid of Betemit. What a waste. He wasn’t even a good utility guy and he was supposed to be a solid starter!
- whozat
  
  “he was supposed to be a solid starter!”
  
  According to who, and when?
- Scott of 3 Kids Tickets
  
  That may be the best part of this trade…BUH-BYE BETEMIT!
  
  -Scott
- jsbrendog (rocks)
  
  at least it got rid of scott proctor before his arm fell off (which it probably did en route to la)
Mike Pop

Who said Betemit didnt have trade value !!!!!
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.
  
  That was me. My bad.
  - Mike Pop
    
    Its all good.. Still respect ya
daneptizl

Top 3 utility man, right Mike?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Nah, he sucks. Useless. ;)
  - Mike Pop
    
    Mike what did Nunez project as ?
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      Dunno, he wasn’t around long enough for me to get a handle on him.
      - Mike Pop
        
        And you run a Yankee blog ? Pathetic ….
        
        pat
        
        95 ish fastball with a slider and crappy change. probably a 7th inning reliever
Jake K.

Provided this deal doesn’t end with Tex on the Red Sox, I love it.
- jersey
  
  it wont angels will keep him at 7 years 140-150 mill
  - Mike Pop
    
    We land him at 6 150.. He wants to be a champ and thats what we will be
    - nmc
      
      No way he gets more annually than A-Rod. No way anyone gets more annually than A-Rod.
daneptizl

Marquez= Gio…. who said the Yanks overhyped their own prospects…
Pingback: I LIKE It! « The Noy G Show
Manimal

Cliff Lee won the Cy young.
- Manimal
  
  Moose had 2 Cy votes and Mariano had 3 all were 3rd place votes/
Mike Pop

CC will be a yank by 12 15 am after that 150 million is offered.. Thats a whole lotta money.. So Swish, CC, and hopefully Tex… We have a real sexxyy team
Brandon

Wait now I do…

I just thought of this scenario…

Hal calls up Peavy, sways him to be open to come to NY

New York strikes a 3 team deal with the Padres and the Cubs

New York gets:
Derrick Lee
Jake Peavy

Chicago gets
Hideki Matsui
Khalil Greene
low ball prospect

San Diego gets:
Ian Kennedy
Nick Swisher
Melky Cabrera
Jeff Samardzija
sadly, Mark Melancon
Kei Igawa(maybe a change of scenery can be good for him?lol)
George Kontos
Ronny Cedeno

we get an ace and a 1st basemen, cubs gets a better of, and doesnt have to create a platoon in left and a better option at SS, padres get 3 players that can be STUDS, a replacement for greene, a good option for outfield, a nice 4th OF, someone who dominates AAA and can do well in a lower budget, less pressure scene, and a nice mid level prospect that can be a #3 or 4 starter

fair? i think so…
- daneptizl
  
  You can’t really give the Padres someone who is making money…
- EDUB
  
  Yeah they wont take Swish or Kei unless we eat almost all of the salary
- Thomas
  
  No way cubs give up Lee, Samardzija, and cedeno for Matsui, Greene, and a low minor player. Not to mention only Greene helps them now and the Cubs are built to win.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  Take it easy, Champ, why don’t you stop talking for a while, you know, maybe sit the next few plays out.
  - rbizzler
    
    Take it easy on him, Brandon is a LoHuddite!
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      LoHudian?
      - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
        
        Luddite?
        
        No, wait a sec…
      - rbizzler
        
        From the Latin for “hangs put on PeteAbe’s blog and spouts nonsense about how the Yankees need to be more like Boston.”
        
        Brandon
        
        sorry, i like his blog, but I dont spout garbage like that, I hate the move, and I was just dreaming, forgive me if I dont agree with you guys about Swisher but that, in no way, doesnt make an idiotic Yankee fan that thinks we need to get the best of the best, and that other teams will accept dumb trades just to help the Yankees. I hate the trade for the Yankees and nothing can change that.
        
        jsbrendog (rocks)
        
        thats fine, youre welcome to your opinion. but your trade proposal makes no sense for the cubs they give up too much and get nothing back but two bad kness and a kid with long hair who sucks. and the padres get their whole payroll sent back to them when theyre trying to trim fat byt raiding the guy you want…doesnt fit man
        
        Steve S
        
        Seriously though, a 13 player trade? Really? Really?
        
        rbizzler
        
        I was just kidding with you as I know that you post on LoHud. In your defense, you are/were (I gave up on the blog a while back) one of the only posters who actually followed the minor leagues.
        
        Carry on.
        
        Chip
        
        You guys can’t whine about him being like a LoHud guy and then act just like the LoHug guys do when somebody puts a trade out there. If you’re going to make fun of a trade, at least point out why
        
        http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
        
        If you’re going to make fun of a trade, at least point out why
        
        Because it’s pure, unadulterated batshit insanity that makes the Cubs horribly, demonstrably worse and would never happen in a billion years. Is that good enough?
  - Mike Pop
    
    You’re so wise. You’re like a miniature Buddha, covered in hair
    - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
      
      You woke the bears!!!! Why did you do that?!?!?
      - Mike Pop
        
        And I’m Tits… I’m Ron Burgundy
        
        Steve S
        
        It’s called Sex Panther. It’s illegal in nine countries… Yep, it’s made with bits of real panther, so you know it’s good.
        
        Mike Pop
        
        Great movie !
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        Apparently, my son was on something called “Acid,” and was shooting a bow and arrow into a crowd.
        
        Steve S
        
        Boy, that escalated quickly… I mean, that really got out of hand fast……I stabbed a man in the heart.
        
        (I could do this all day)
        
        Mike Pop
        
        Yeah, there were horses, and a man on fire, and I killed a guy with a trident.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        Let’s go over the groundrules. Rule number 1: No touching of the hair or face… AND THAT’S IT!
        
        http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
        
        Ron: Oh, look, the most glorious rainbow!
        Veronica: DO ME ON IT!!!
- Bruno
  
  Cubs won’t trade Lee, that would leave a HUGE hole in their line-up. How is Greene better than Theriot? Matsui in RF? LOL
- SWB
  
  Why on earth would the Cubs (who play in the NL) want Matsui who is no more than a DH at best for Derrick Lee basically. This is the worst trade ever for the cubs. Look at what they give up and get
- radnom
  
  So let me rephrase what you are saying:
  
  Chicago gives up Derrick Lee, Cedeno and Samardzija for an injured LF who can not play the field and a poor short stop?
  
  Then, San Diego dumps Peavy but ADDS salary (I think, its not worth it to actually do the math though). Either way it is close.
  
  And NY gets two sick players, giving up one decent starting prospect and one good relief one. Neither with ML success.
  
  Make sense.
- jersey
  
  first of all why would the cubs make that deal? secondly why do you want someone who has clearly stated that he does not want to be in new york… that to me sounds like a player that will not succeed under the bright lights..you wont be good on the big stage unless you want to….
- 27 this year
  
  I don’t think the Padres want to take Kei’s and Swish’s salary.
  
  Also that is more quantity than qualitye. Really only IPK, and Melancon can really be good. Cedeno is a backup with a little bit of a starter, Kontos is not much, Melky ain’t much, Samardzija is good.
  
  the cubs get ransacked though. Samardzija is a good bp arm and Lee doesn’t suck and they barely get anythinhg back.
Mike Pop

Heyman says we out on Tex
- Bruno
  
  Hank disagrees ;)
  - Reggie C.
    
    I was going to type “link?” .. but then i realized that your making a comment. It wouldn’t surprise me to read a Hank quote tomorrow about how Swisher is “gritty”. Swisher still has a beard no?
    - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
      
      Here’s a picture of Swisher today, reacting to the news:
      
      http://www.prilliman.com/Blog/.....yAdams.jpg
      - Mike Pop
        
        Haha thats funny dude
      - Reggie C.
        
        Good stuff.
        
        Wow.. Swisher really lets himself go in the offseason.
gxpanos

Love the deal. Leverage with Tex, cheap, young, depth, didn’t give anything up. Good call the other day, Mike.

And for steve (different one) RE: the Moose post (I figure nobody’s gonna be reading that post anytime soon, with this one, and I wanted to reply):

I didn’t base my post about wishing Cash didn’t think he had to choose between Moose and Pettitte on anything, just echoing a little bit of nervousness about it like the first few posters. I shouldn’t have worded my post like that; of course I don’t know what Cash is thinking.

It’s just, Andy already said PUBLICLY he’ll take one year. Why haven’t they hammered it out?
- gxpanos
  
  Now, back to the Swish news.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  Maybe we’re trying to find an effective HGH masking agent to give Andy before we sign off on the deal
- http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/01/18/jeter_ap/index.html steve (different one)
  
  I didn’t base my post about wishing Cash didn’t think he had to choose between Moose and Pettitte on anything, just echoing a little bit of nervousness about it like the first few posters. I shouldn’t have worded my post like that; of course I don’t know what Cash is thinking.
  
  no problem, dude.
  
  It’s just, Andy already said PUBLICLY he’ll take one year. Why haven’t they hammered it out?
  
  they were busy trading for Swisher??
  - gxpanos
    
    Haha yeah I guess so!
    
    I guess it took awhile for Cash to fly to Chicago, get Kenny Williams drunk, slip the roofies in his drink, drag him to an out-of-the-way alley, and have his way with him.
    
    Like Mike and the Sox fans said: http://i143.photobucket.com/al…..ystyle.gif
radnom

” Unless I hear the names Kennedy, Cabrera, and a Humberto Sanchez/Dellin Betances type

This sucks”

Quoted from southsidesox when Marquez was the only know Yank.
- radnom
  
  They also had plenty of speculation about Austin Jackson, haha.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    My personal favorite was when someone posted this in reaction to the trade:
    
    http://i143.photobucket.com/al.....ystyle.gif
    - radnom
      
      haha yes, that was pretty gross.
      
      Good thing we can’t embed .gifs around here, with this crowd.
      - pat
        
        my gf is good embed
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        I know she is.
    - Brian
      
      just when i thought i got the picture….Barfolomew! Half man, half dog!
      - radnom
        
        Apparently I’ve been going about “doggy style” all wrong….
      - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
        
        Great, that’s all we need… a Druish princess.
    - nmc
      
      i like how the bottom one actually looks like Nick Swisher
- radnom
  
  Good to see they are all still so high on him after all they’ve had of him was that one shitty year.
http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_player_postseason.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=121250&statType=2 Slugger27

i know im late to the party…. but good lord thats a steal
Steve S

Brian Cashman….

Just when I thought you couldn’t get any dumber, you go and do something like this… and totally redeem yourself!
- http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/01/18/jeter_ap/index.html steve (different one)
  
  i enjoyed this post.
  - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
    
    Simpson, Swanson, Swinton… SWISHER!!! I was way off.
Mike Pop

I really still hope we get Tex… I dont get why Heyman says we are out of it.. Does he not know that Damon and Nady are both FA’s next year.. Same with Matsui… Thats the main reason I think Tex has a good chance of being a Yankee after this deal
- Bruno
  
  That would require him to um….um…..THINK!
- daneptizl
  
  Link?
  - Joey
    
    http://www.fannation.com/si_bl.....osts/23221
andrew

“Hey, they’re the Yankees. They’ve just lopped nearly $90 million off the payroll. They have a new gazillion-dollar money-machine ballpark opening. And you might have noticed they didn’t make the playoffs this season. So if it can be bought, they’ll buy it. They’ll be all over CC, Burnett, Lowe and Teixeira. And once they get all that sorted out, they’ll be all over the next wave of free-agent starters if they’re not shopped out. They could even chase Manny Ramirez and Orlando Hudson if they really get lathered up. So in other words, they’ll be a New York Post back page waiting to happen every 15 minutes this winter.” – espn.com

this is going to be an exciting few months.
- Bruno
  
  O yea!
- Brandon
  
  NO!!!!!!! we dont need Manny or Hudson, boo! Get CC and Tex and let Burnett and Lowe go elsewhere…
zach

why does it have to be ransom? why not get an affordable upgrade like willie bloomquist?
- Bruno
  
  What’s wrong with Ransom?
  - Mike Pop
    
    NO ! Alex Cora wins games !
    - Bruno
      
      Hello Mr. Gammons. What’s that you said? I couldn’t hear you with all those red socks’ in your mouth!
      - Mike Pop
        
        Suprised Mike didnt post the video of Cora crying in the College World Series
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        Give me a chance.
        
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
- daneptizl
  
  Bloomquist is an OF. Not laughing at the idea, but have you seen Bloomquists’ slugging last year? .324…
  - daneptizl
    
    Whoops, too much credit… .324 career slugging, .285 last year…
  - Mike Pop
    
    Id rather get Punto, Ramon Vazquez, or Cesar Izturis if we could
    - Bruno
      
      Vazquez would get my vote, but don’t be surprised if he starts at SS for Baltimore.
      - andrew
        
        vazquez was very good as a utility man for the rangers and continued his hot hitting when he started at 3b when blalock went out. i would assume hed try to go somewhere where hed get more ab’s
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/01/18/jeter_ap/index.html steve (different one)

the funny thing is that by trading Betemit and signing Marte to the 3 year deal vs. the option, the Yankees basically added Swisher with almost NO HIT to their 2009 payroll.

Betemit is in his 2nd year of arb and will probably make about $2M this year. Marte will make $3.75M in 2009.

this isn’t a big deal or anything, just saying that adding Swisher has yet to eat into the $80M or whatever they have to spend.
- Mike Pop
  
  How soon do you guys think CC will sign ?
  - Bruno
    
    12:01
- jsbrendog (rocks)
  
  only another reason why cahsman is a genius and anyone who is like “cashman is teh suck” (lol by the way) should go teh suck an egg
  - Lanny
    
    He’s a genius for trading for Nick Swisher?
    
    Relax there
    - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
      
      He’s a genius for capitalizing on a golden opportunity and improving our team without giving up anything of meaningful value.
      
      Well, perhaps “genius” is a strong word, but it’s certainly a great trade, and another check in the plus column for CashMoney.
daneptizl

Not an on base machine…
- Chip
  
  Swisher’s career OBP = Damon’s career OBP
  
  That’s good enough for me
daneptizl

I like Cash’s I gotta give to get statement…. how true it is…
Lanny

This is why fans shouldn’t make trade proposals.

We ere giving up Damon and Kennedy 24 hrs ago and it turns out to be Betemit and Marquez.

That’s funny.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Heh, I know. I said the same thing to Joe immediately after I learned about the trade. Just this morning we said in the podcast that Damon & IPK might not work.
  - Chip
    
    Just goes to show that we have absolutely zero clue how GMs value players
    - daneptizl
      
      Yeah… they might hold Nady with high esteem…. like maybe Josh Byrnes… maybe high enough to part with Justin Upton for Nady and McCallister…
      - Chip
        
        For all we know we could trade Matsui and Nady for Jonathon Sanchez and Buster Posey!
        
        andrew
        
        i thought we were trading melky for cain and lincecum? the giants need young outfielders, right?
Tremont

Are we definitely ruling out Abreu’s return? I hope not. Matsui, Damon, and Nady come off the books after this season. If Gardner and Melky prove they are just 4th outfielders, Swisher sticks at first and A-Jax isn’t ready (none of which are unreasonable possibilities), the Yanks will have to refill the entire OF in ’10. Plus Nady just had his career year. I don’t necessarily think, he would give us above average production in a full season in New York. Sign Bobby to a 2 or 3 year deal. Plug him back into the 3rd spot and get Nady 400 ABs backing up the LF/RF/1B/DH spots.
- Lanny
  
  He’s a goner.
- daneptizl
  
  That’s why you sign Tex… 6/120.
  - Chip
    
    It’ll take more than 6/120 I think
    - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
      
      6/121?
- Chip
  
  But we could also use the money we’ve been paying Matsui and Damon and go after a Matt Holliday or Carl Crawford (or dare I say Rick Ankiel?). Plus after next season we’ll know more about A-Jax and Gardner and there has to be a few in the ’10 free agent class that could be possibilities. And of course as we’ve just seen, we can always trade!
mike Ciavolino

its not exactly a “heist” here.

Do we think that the sox didn’t know they were getting back a bag of balls for swisher?

“Wow, cashman fleeced ken williams into thinking Marquez is Cy Young. He’s a genius!”

The sox didn’t want to pay a slow footed, ok fielding, first baseman 21 million over 3 years, so they sent him to the only team that could absorb that money without noticing it – The Yankees, where 21 million can amount to taking a flyer on someone.

Similar to the abreau deal where the yanks got a “star” for not much except the willingness to be on the hook for the money.

I think the deal clincher today was that Ozzie Guillen would drive Swisher to the airport.

I don’t like the deal because he is just the kind of guy the yanks don’t need. They’ll hit enough home runs with matsui, a-rod, posada, damon and nady.

They need a few speedy, dynamic players that put the ball in play, can run the bases and play great defense. That is not swisher.
- jersey
  
  theyll hit enough hr’s with matsui damon posada nady and alex? really? four 20 homer guys and one 40 hr guy?
  - jersey
    
    and damon, jorge arent locks for 20 and matsui isnt a lock to be healthy
- Chip
  
  If Swisher can put up a 120ish OPS+ over the next few seasons, this is a steal. Marquez and Nunez were never going to be a big part of this team with the pitching ahead and behind them while Betemit wasn’t going to push A-Rod/Jeter/Cano for a starting job and isn’t consistent enough to play first IMO
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  They need a few speedy, dynamic players that put the ball in play, can run the bases and play great defense. That is not swisher.
  
  You’re right. We should be fielding a lineup of 9 Willy Taverases.
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/02_01/burressDM0402_468x305.jpg Nady Nation

Love the deal. Just outta curiousity though – assuming no Teix, what do you guys see as the lineup? I’m thinking:

Damon
Jeter
Matsui (DH)
A-Rod
Posada
Nady
Swisher
Cano
Gardner

Maybe flip-flop Jorge and Swish?
- Chip
  
  Depends how Matsui looks next season. If he looks like he needs a walker out there then I’d switch him and Posada. Otherwise, that’s a damn good lineup
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  I hope they keep Swish just below the heart of the order, say 6th or 7th. At least initially.
p2

I don’t like this deal at all. This is like getting a younger Giambi. Texiera was the answer. Thumbs down.
- andrew
  
  this doesnt mean they wont get texiera…
- Mike Pop
  
  Tex still is the answer.. No matter what Cash says I still think this is for the outfield right now…We need Swish in the outfield and Tex is the best 1st baseman who is goiing to be available in FA for a LONG timede.. assuming Pujols will be resigned
- Tremont
  
  A younger Giambi was an MVP.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  I don’t like this deal at all. This is like getting a younger Giambi. Texiera was the answer. Thumbs down.
  
  Garth, if I were to give you some money from out of my wallet, would that help ease the pain?
mustang

Great call Mike A. you nail this one.

I like the deal, but by no means is this a solution for first base I hope they still go after Mark Teixeira. Unfortunately this now opens the door a little more for Manny I would think.
So Mike A. this might be bitter sweet we will see.
NYFan50

It really doesn’t seem like Teixeira is a possibility now unless they trade Damon, Matsui or Nady. I guess it’s all pitching from here on out unless they make some more deals.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Mr. Snarky Irrelevant Non Sequitur Jones
  
  Trading Damon, Matsui, or Nady, if that’s what we decide to do, will probably be much, much easier than you think.
Mike Pop

Who wouldnt want this guy on your team ???

http://ladybaseball.mlblogs.co.....wisher.jpg
Pingback: River Avenue Blues | Open Thread: The storm before the storm
JeffG

Nice move by Cashman. The players that came our way should be much better than the ones that left. Hopefully Texiera is still on the menu but I’m starting to believe that Cash has no interest in spending another 20+ million on a bat when he’s going to have to shell out for CC.
Did we just upgrade the bench with a guy that could potentially battle for a spot in the outfield? Or did we just find next year’s new firstbaseman.
If you compare Swisher and Betemit – easy choice Swish.
If you compare Swish and Giambi on a money perspective easy choice Swish. On a performance level (hitting) should be close. Defense, yup, another big up for Swish.
Tex and Swish now that’s a different ball game. Best case scenario they are teammates next year. Let’s hope.
Alan

I’m ecstatic about this deal. This is exactly what the team needed, a patient hitter who can play defense at multiple positions. While he’s a mediocre center fielder, he’s more than capable in the corners and plays a solid first base. Now we need to address the rotation and see if Abreu is coming back. If Abreu leaves, which is a distinct possibility, I’d like to see us work a trade for another bat. Please, no Manny in pinstripes.
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