Nick Swisher was an interesting acquisition for the Yankees from jump. He was penciled in as the Yankees' first baseman, but had enough versatility to move to the outfield if the Yanks were to acquire Mark Teixeira. Back then, the possibility of the Yanks signing Teixeira was remote ... but now that he's here, the Yankees were all of a sudden faced with a possible outfield of Hideki Matsui/Johnny Damon in left field, Swisher in center, and Xavier Nady in right, with Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera on the outside looking in.But the Yankees must be thinking about the potential defensive nightmare in such an outfield due to a lack of range, and wonder if any offense that Nady or Swisher would bring would be too much of a luxury on a team with Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez. So somewhat not surprisingly, the Yanks are now reportedly listening to offers for Nady and Swisher.
With teams scared to spend money for free agent outfielders, Nady could provide an interesting option for a team with a deep farm system and who's close to contention. Ultimately, I see the Yankees asking for a bit too much in return for Nady for him to be the guy to go ... and that leaves Swisher, who's coming off a down year and would be easier to trade for. And for the Yanks, putting Gardner in your outfield is a little easier to take with Teixeira, A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Nady in your lineup. So I can see the Nick Swisher era ending in New York before it ever starts.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-07-2009 @ 7:53PM
schamp809 said...
i personally think they should keep both Swisher and Nady with Nady being the everyday RF and Swish strengthening the bench and and protection in case of injury(both Matsui and Damon are older and creakier and Nady has had health issues in the past...Girardi could get creative enough tho get 300-400 abs for swish and 500 or so if healthy for Sui/XMan and Elvis and keep them fresh for October ball...
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1-07-2009 @ 7:43PM
TheHulk said...
Great problem to have...
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1-07-2009 @ 8:50PM
AllstarGM said...
Hughes and Nady for Peavey...The Yanks and even throw in that waterboy Kennedy. THEN you can start designing the rings
Anyone who "thinks" the Yankees are bad for baseball don't think at all. Love them or hate them, you watch them. You know it, your favorite teams owner knows it. Empty stadiums fill when they come to town.
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1-07-2009 @ 10:17PM
Tommy said...
The Yanks should package Melky or Swisher & Ian Kennedy (or a lesser pitching prospect) to San Fransisco for Aaron Rowand. That gives you Nady in rt., Rowand in center, and Matsui/Damon in left/DH. By the time Rowands contract expires Austin Jackson will be ready to take over. Rowand is a defensive upgrade in center and could bat 8th or 9th. If SF wants to expand the deal to get us a cheap number 5 starter you can pull back Swisher and add Matsui who is a natural fit for SF's large Asian community.
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1-08-2009 @ 8:04PM
Mark said...
I was dissapointed that the Yankees traded Betemeit, a versatile backup infielder away for Swisher. I didn't think that Swisher was worth it, and I was hoping that they would find a team that would take him in a trade. Nady played very well for the Yankees, so I would be sad to see him go - unless he is part of a large package for Jake Peavy. Peavy would be the final piece of the puzzle if the Yankees could get him. I'd rather see Cabrera, Gardner, Swisher, and Kennedy go before Nady, though. I don't think for one second that the Yankees are done making moves this offseason, so anything is possible.
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