Yankees Trade for Nick Swisher

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 13, 2008 12:55 PM PST Comment 55 comments

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3700869

Now usually there's no reason in the world for us to much care that the Yanks are making a trade for someone like Swisher to begin with. However, considering that he is still a starting player, still has power, and is a FIRST BASEMAN by trade, and is young and relatively cheap, one has to wonder: does this mean that the Yankees have gone out and shored up their corner infield for cheap in order to bolster an offer for Sabathia? And does this invariably mean that our biggest competition for Teixeira is suddenly...gone?

What do you think?

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My thought exactly.

by Sweetmeats on Nov 13, 2008 12:57 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

There is still going to be interest for Tex from other teams, but this is an interesting development.

According to Ken Rosenthal, Jake Peavy is still very much available, as he reports the Padres are not close to a deal with any team. So Jake may figure in to this mess as well.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8790286/Source:-Padres-‘not-close-with-anyone’-on-Peavy

Recipient of the 2008 "The Iron Man" award from scottnak of Halos Heaven!

by 44FAN on Nov 13, 2008 1:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

maybe

or they can still be after Teix and use Swish at DH. Yanks still have a ton of money that came off their books this past season. new stadium. didn’t make the playoffs last yr so add more to the payroll to try to win.

by HALO_86 on Nov 13, 2008 1:15 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Matsui is at DH now from what I understand.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 13, 2008 1:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget Jorge and his bad knee

Teixeira............Everything else can wait.

by hauldog on Nov 13, 2008 1:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rosenthal says they got him to play first.

Teixeira............Everything else can wait.

by hauldog on Nov 13, 2008 1:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

nice

Very smart move by them, buy low, sell high.

I think this makes it much more likely we keep U-Haul.

From everything I hear and read, the Yankees are all about getting CC and pitching, and the Angels are singularly focused on getting Big Tex.

by elricsi on Nov 13, 2008 1:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

If we keep Tex,

The U-Haul nickname has to go away.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Nov 13, 2008 2:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Can we change it to Mayflower???

He’s gonna need one to move all the stuff he’s gonna be able to buy after he signs his big contract.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Specializing in maniac-ball since 2000

by halofan4life on Nov 13, 2008 3:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sticking with Tush,

I know you all hate it, but I think it’s hilarious.

Scioscia - He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by Rally Manatee on Nov 13, 2008 5:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Love it

I saw Tex going to the skanks, this actually gives hope to our cause, unless a Mike Lowell trade is announced.

Keep in mind, I don't know wtf i'm talking about.

by tdischino on Nov 13, 2008 1:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

i dont see the yanks out of it at all

if they trade matsui, we’re right back where we started. They want teix, believe me. and so do the red sox

by ihearhowie2.0 on Nov 13, 2008 1:35 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

The Sox want him

but currently don’t have the room without a trade.

The Yanks want him, but if they want pitching more (and they NEED it more), this is likely a move to allow them to get two premiere starters in the rotation, while keeping one position relatively cheap. They probably still want an OF at some point, too.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 13, 2008 1:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This is great for us

because of his ability to play 1st and the OF The Yanks might not go after tex quite as hard. But that means that becasue they are probably going to focus on pitching they will go extremely hard for CC Sabathia

Terrorist plot to blow up Fenway? I'm okay with that

by Sinatrasratpack on Nov 13, 2008 1:36 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

CC

yeah probably thats what it means. now since CC can control his own destiny he’s just going to have to choose where he wants to play for the next 5-7 yrs. he can basically write his own ticket. i still think the Yanks are going to go after Teix. even if they go after 2 pitchers, the Yanks still have alot of money to throw around.

by HALO_86 on Nov 13, 2008 1:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yanks are still players

Nick Swisher has played more games as an OF then a 1B. With Bobby Abreu a FA there is room in the OF for Swisher and AB’s. I think there is more shock in the fact they traded away a solid arm in Jeff Marquez.

In my opinion the Yanks will be players for Tex and CC The NYY have lots of $$$ available to them.

Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee

by Angel Aviator on Nov 13, 2008 1:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

After Tex and Gimanbi, there is a huge drop off in 1b talent.

I think Swisher would play center. If play started today they would move the resurrected (and highly paid) Johnny Damon permanently to left and use one of their in-house options (Posada, Betemet, X. Nady) at 1b, I’d be surprised to see Swisher there. Any word where Mr. Giambi might go?

You are what you type.

by rjcicc on Nov 13, 2008 2:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Betemit is part of this trade.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 13, 2008 3:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Cashman is trying to shore up their pourous defense.

No way he runs Swisher out there in center

Teixeira............Everything else can wait.

by hauldog on Nov 13, 2008 3:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly.

Brian Cashman even said so himself, though in a more polite manner:

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081113&content_id=3678194&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

In that article Cashman states that Swisher will primarily play 1st and that he sees Swisher as an “average” defensive CF’er which is a nice way of saying he sucks as a CF’er.

by Chzburger Jones on Nov 13, 2008 7:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yanks and Sox

Someone metioned Posada earlier. He is under contract for (I think) two more years. And NY really doesn’t want to put him back into the catcher’s spot—they need his bat to be productive for those remaining contract years. So he’s either going to have to DH or play first. Matsui is likely going to be mostly DHing, but he might have to be in the outfield if Posada doesn’t handle first base well. Swisher would fill the gap where Matsui and Posada aren’t playing. The Yanks could still go after Tex, but it doesn’t seem nearly as likely now.

Boston really needs a bat and a first baseman. And despite an earlier comment (which I agree with) about them needing to trade someone else in order to make room for Tex, I now think the BoSox are our biggest competitor in the Tex race. They’ll find a way to get that trade done. But I have more confidence that Arte and Reagins will find a way to keep Tex here in SoCal.

The '56 LA Angels (PCL) cap logo...a classic.

by MurrietaMick on Nov 13, 2008 2:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Chowds

Boston has The Greek God of Walks, Lowell, Ortiz, Bay and Drew for 1B, 3B, DH and the corner OF.

They really don’t have room for U-Haul, they would bid a fair price to keep it honest, I’m sure, but they will not overpay given what they have.

Yankees will bid for Mark, and he would help them, but I just can’t see them going completely overboard like you need to for a Boras client. Remember they just got out from a 7 year contract at 1B too.

by elricsi on Nov 13, 2008 4:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This article from the NY Post is chuck-full of stuff about the Sabathia deal and the competition between the Angels and the Yankees for CC:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11132008/sports/yankees/yankees_ready_to_blow_away_cc_with_big_o_138398

It says the Yankees will offer CC 6yrs./ 150M to land him. The Angels are interested but it says they are “fixated” on Teixeira, and it quotes Tony Reagins as saying he can’t imagine signing both Tex and CC.

Recipient of the 2008 "The Iron Man" award from scottnak of Halos Heaven!

by 44FAN on Nov 13, 2008 2:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

You all act like the Yankees are rational.

Scioscia - He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by Rally Manatee on Nov 13, 2008 5:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Super interesting

Yanks need pitching anyways but I was almost sure they would go after Tex. This says otherwise. Bidding war between Halos, the Sux and the Orioles now?

Who’s a better wheeling and dealing GM—Theo "I still look twelve" Epstein or the Ninja?

Or a better question: Who does Boras like better?

Are chances of getting Tex just got a whole lot better.

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Nov 13, 2008 7:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Sox would have to make another move to swing it

Youk and Lowell are already at the corners. Ortiz’s fat HGH ass is already at DH. The outfield has Crisp, Ellsbury, Bay, Drew, and Kotsay. So they’re plugged up as far as moving people around to fit him in. A trade would have to happen.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 13, 2008 11:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not necessarily...

The Sox are wealthy enough to sit Lowell and his millions if the right trade didn’t open up. They’ve got cash to spare, so if they feel that Tex represents the best upgrade for them, then they’ll pay full value.

by rghan on Nov 14, 2008 2:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's not a matter of having the money

it’s a matter of common sense and good business sense. Lowell makes 12.5 million. He’s not a worthless player, either. He contributes for them when healthy. If they signed Teixeira without a trade and just benched Lowell, they’d essentially be paying Teix his huge contract + eating 12.5 million a year. It would be stupid beyond words. They wouldn’t do it…ESPECIALLY since Lowell can hit.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 14, 2008 2:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

you honestly think they wouldnt be able to move lowell?

id think the twins, dodgers, phillies, A’s, indians and probably a few others im missing would ALL be willing to give up something that would keep the sox from having lowell just rot on a bench on their buck

by ihearhowie2.0 on Nov 14, 2008 8:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't say they couldn't move Lowell

I was just telling the other guy who I’ve never seen here before that it’s absurd to say that the Sox would sign Teix WITHOUT trading him.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 14, 2008 12:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I know the yankees are flush

with cash. But to get Tex, CC, Burnett or Lowe, they are going to commit 400 mil and lose a shitload of picks. If anyone could do it, they could, but you would think they have learned some lessons by throwing money at vets. I look for them to shore up that pitching and stick with what they have offensively, which is already pretty money.

by bruinbrah on Nov 13, 2008 11:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

400 million?

in annual salary? An average of 100 million, each, per year? I don’t think so. More like $200 million, and they have that much coming off the books this offseason.

by jjackflash on Nov 13, 2008 11:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

he obviously meant in total contracts, not per year

150 CC
170 Teix
60 Lowe
70 Burnett

by ihearhowie2.0 on Nov 13, 2008 11:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks ihearhowie2.0...

for explaining that, I didn’t think it would be confusing. You also nailed the numbers.

by bruinbrah on Nov 13, 2008 11:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

they can afford it

the Yankees have essentially freed up more than $100 million in payroll costs for the 2009 season. Not sure how many years you are projecting for each of those deals, but the average annual value of all those contracts combined doesn’t equal the amount of money coming off their books this winter (by my estimation, they have about $80 million coming off the books in terms of contracts, plus an additional $30 million in luxury tax they will no longer have to pay). It really wouldn’t cost them anything more than it did in 2008 to add each and every one of those guys.

by jjackflash on Nov 14, 2008 12:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

There is about 76 coming off the books

assuming they don’t resign Pettite or Mussina. They would essentially be just a little over where they are now, so I guess they could prob do it. They would be nasty. Wouldn’t they be paying the same amount of luxury tax considering if they signed all those people their payroll would be right back where it was before?

by bruinbrah on Nov 14, 2008 1:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No More Luxury Tax

because they are moving into the new stadium. They are exempt from the tax as long as they are paying debt service on the new park. It’s one of the reasons they built a new park rather than renovate the old one. And, they’ll have additional revenue streams.

As for the salary, here’s how I came up with 80: Giambi ($23), Abreu ($16), Pettitte ($16), Pavano ($11), Mussina ($11), Nady ($3).

by jjackflash on Nov 14, 2008 1:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh...

I missed Nady, thanks for the info. Definitely didn’t know all of that. Just read a rumor that they want to offer lowe, sabathia, and burnett. Still prob doesn’t change anything, but one can hope they will stay away from our boy.

by bruinbrah on Nov 14, 2008 1:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't Nady still on the team?

Teixeira............Everything else can wait.

by hauldog on Nov 14, 2008 2:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

yup

my bad on that one.

by jjackflash on Nov 14, 2008 4:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Why the hell do they have that rule?

How does that help to protect parity?

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 14, 2008 3:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I am as puzzled as you are.

Teixeira............Everything else can wait.

by hauldog on Nov 14, 2008 4:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not Guilty

I didn’t write the rules.

by jjackflash on Nov 14, 2008 5:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but you pointed it out to me

so I’m blaming you anyway.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 14, 2008 6:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Plus...

I don’t think they get hit with the luxury tax in ’09 regardless of payroll because of the new stadium. So Steinbrenner could essentially give Cashman a blank checkbook.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Nov 14, 2008 3:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Correct me if I'm wrong...

but the Yankees only have one first round pick to lose. The other teams will only get supplimental picks for losing their FA.

Am I right? Anyone?

I was uncool before uncool was cool.

by WiHaloFan on Nov 14, 2008 4:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

that is correct

Teixeira............Everything else can wait.

by hauldog on Nov 14, 2008 11:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This is a message to Reagins, an act of good faith from Cashman...

…“Neither of us benefits from a bidding war on two fronts that drives up salaries. Here, I am, stepping away from your first beloved baseman, now, please, pretty please, move away from my fat arsed pitcher”

He’s offering a quid pro quo…

I see red people

by The Limey on Nov 14, 2008 2:01 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I say that

we make him think we agree, and sign Teix.

Then at the last minute, sweep in and take C.C., too. Then spit in Cashman’s face on the way to the playoffs!

Agreed?

Agreed. Good.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 14, 2008 2:46 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Stealth, subterfuge, assassination...

…Ninja.

Never give a sucker an even break…

I see red people

by The Limey on Nov 14, 2008 3:39 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Indeed

Though I’ll be more comfortable saying this once/if we actually do it.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Nov 14, 2008 9:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I've been saying ...

For months that the Yanks would not be serious bidders for Teix, and I think this goes a long way to confirming that. They have more pressing concerns. They need CC far more than we do, and we need Teix far more than they do. I don’t like paying that much money for a pitcher, given our solid pitching depth. I would LOVE to get Peavey instead.

by ValisJason on Nov 14, 2008 9:54 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

It's a seller market for shortstops...

…we could spare one for Peavy (+ whatever else it will take)

I see red people

by The Limey on Nov 14, 2008 11:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, I think Peavy would be a better fit for the Angels over the long run than CC, and cheaper too.

Recipient of the 2008 "The Iron Man" award from scottnak of Halos Heaven!

by 44FAN on Nov 14, 2008 12:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hard to say

most defense metrics have him as a better LF /RF then 1B, and the Yanks need to plan for their OF going foward anyway (right now they have a limpy CF as their LF, a somewhat intriguing kid that had a horrible year plus a low upsdie scrappy kid that was equally horrible in CF, and a mediocare slugger that had a career year as their RF. on, and the most talented guy amoung these 4… the limpy LF Damon, is on his last year.)

Sure, they have guys like Holliday / Bay / Crawford that might come avalible after 09, but only Holliday is arguablly on the same level and he’s older.

Rationally, the Yankees would still be better off in 09 with Teix in 1B, Swisher in LF and Damon in CF, sure Damon might fall apart, but it’s a contract year and they have semi adequet backups so it seems like a reasonable risk to take.

if they want to save money they’re still better off trying to bargin hunt on the non-CC pitchers and / or trade away Matsui / Damon .

A lot of bloggers have suggested this, (Goldman, BeyondtheboxScore, Fangraph, etc..) that the Yanks should still go for Teix, and given Cashman’s track record I’m guessing he’s likely going to try , regardless of what you hear in rumors (he’s pretty good at fooling everyone VIA rumors.)

by RollingWave on Nov 19, 2008 2:16 AM PST reply actions 0 recs