News: Yankees acquire Nick Swisher

November 13, 2008 at 16:00 pm · 102 comments

by Matthew Cerrone

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the White Sox have traded OF Nick Swisher to the Yankees for minor league pitcher Jeff Marquez.

The Yankees will also get RHP Kanekoa Texeira from Chicago, adds FoxSports.com.

The 27–year-old Swisher, who hit just .219 last season, will earn $21 million over the next three seasons.

again, we mull over rumor after rumor every day, all day, and yet here comes another trade that nobody was talking about, just like Matt Holliday, just like Scott Olsen and Josh Willighman…

Update4:05 pm

SI.com’s Jon Heyman called in to WFAN to say Wilson Betemit may be involved in the deal, as well as other minor leaguer.

“Marquez is a pretty good minor leaguer, but not a top-shelf guy,” according to Heyman.

Heyman says ‘every one is up for grabs on the White Sox,’ since Ozzie Guillen would like his team to get ‘younger and faster.’

{ 102 comments }

Nate W. November 13, 2008 at 4:03 pm

So with Nady and him they can have two guys who cant play the OF or 1B very well. I guess they might as well make Damon the everyday CF and make all the FA pitchers walk away in disgust.

KickedintheMetsiclesAgain November 13, 2008 at 4:17 pm

I knew the Yankees would get Texeira! lol

HOFMets57 November 13, 2008 at 4:50 pm

Sometimes I wonder if Brian Cashman knows what he’s doing…

sdubs6583 November 13, 2008 at 4:07 pm

I wonder if this has any effect on them trading Dye? I hope not because I was looking forward to a possible trade for him.

ksuth November 13, 2008 at 4:09 pm

you’re looking forward to possibly gettin Jermaine Dye?

ksuth November 13, 2008 at 4:12 pm

he’ll be 35 by the start of next season.

NYMETSFAN718 November 13, 2008 at 4:14 pm

And???? Your going to Get 280 30 90 from him!!

dave27 November 13, 2008 at 4:16 pm

Didn’t you hear? Mets fans of the world have collectively decided that anyone over the age of 28 is now useless.

Never mind Dye is younger than Delgado who everyone is in love with again.

sdubs6583 November 13, 2008 at 4:17 pm

Thank you. Age isn’t always a bad thing. You would have him 2 years max.

Not wanting a guy just cause he is in mid 30’s is completely relative to his conditioning and contract length.

ArmandoReynoso November 13, 2008 at 4:17 pm

at least Nick Swisher is younger… oh wait, he also hits 70 points lower with a lot less power, too. never mind…

Coolpapabell November 13, 2008 at 6:15 pm

Great user name. Armando……love it.

Markiss87 November 13, 2008 at 4:08 pm

Whats the meaning of this. Hes not a CF just another corner OF, Y does it seems that yankees are tryna stack on as many OF maybe so other teams would be weak at those needs lolz.

BigHangWithEm November 13, 2008 at 4:41 pm

you know Swisher is a CF right?

Nate W. November 14, 2008 at 9:33 am

He’s played CF, but calling him a CF would be generous…

He’s a 1B/LF on an average defensive team.

Genesis Does November 13, 2008 at 4:09 pm

This wont stop them from signing teixera. If anything, this will make theyre AWFUL bench from last year much better. Not a bad move. People at espn.com are all laughing, apparently they think hes going to be the starting centerfielder/ 1st baseman. Those people dont know hank steinbrenner

Genesis Does November 13, 2008 at 4:09 pm

their*, even

Pedro November 13, 2008 at 4:10 pm

I hate that the Mets can’t grap a guy like Swisher for seemingly very little. He would have probably been a solid candidate to play left, a switch-hitter with significant pop.

Nate W. November 14, 2008 at 9:35 am

The White Sox gave up a haul to get him just one year ago. Odd that they would flip him for much less…

Maybe the Sox plan to play Betimit at 2B everyday and expect the same production. Would be tough to get that from Betimit though..

joe the wanderer November 13, 2008 at 4:12 pm

i am surprised the Yanks did not try to get Paul Konerko for 1st base. so Swisher becomes the CF and Nady is the RF.

here is a trade idea:

Luis Castillo and Carlos Delgado to the D’Backs for Eric Byrnes and two Prospect that is ready for the majors like a starting pitcher / relief pitcher or an infielder.

The mets pick up 2 of 3 years of Castillo’s contract. D’Backs pick up a year of Byrnes contract. The D’Backs can now move Connor Jackson to LF and have Castillo at 2nd and Delgado at first.

ksuth November 13, 2008 at 4:13 pm

That’s awful.

The end.

joe the wanderer November 13, 2008 at 4:17 pm

you are getting rid of Delgado and his stupid “we are so good” arrogance and rid of the burden that is Castillo. this is the change this mets team need.

the key is to balance the mets lineup with every position being capable of hitting 15 or more home runs and drive in 70 plus runs except for the catcher and pitcher.

guierllNO MOta November 13, 2008 at 4:19 pm

I dont disagree with you to get rid of those 2…but your proposal is nothing short of idiotic…”here take our 2 way-overpaid problems and give us back a guy you still like and prospects”….you see why were dissing it? your idea is good, but that is a WFAN caller trade proposal….

ArmandoReynoso November 13, 2008 at 4:22 pm

actually, that’s a significantly weaker team, with not much salary relief, and you now have 1B and 2B holes to fill (and a LF who missed most of last season).

Plus, the D-backs are trying to cut salary, so they aint picking up Delgado’s 12M.

joe the wanderer November 13, 2008 at 4:27 pm

Some team’s GM needs to be a moron and take Delgado and Castillo off of the mets hand. pay all of the money owed if you have to.

the team will collapse again if Delgado and Castillo are on this team in 2009 along with the same bullpen.

oleosmirf November 13, 2008 at 4:31 pm

Delgado was not the problem, if he didnt hit 40 HR the Marlins would have finished ahead of us

Markiss87 November 13, 2008 at 4:14 pm

Stop smoking

NYMETSFAN718 November 13, 2008 at 4:15 pm

Who do the MEts play at 1B?

Gina November 13, 2008 at 4:15 pm

Why would the d-backs give back two prospects? Especially major league ones. Why would they even consider that?

joe the wanderer November 13, 2008 at 4:19 pm

well, one decent relief prospect would be fine.

Gina November 13, 2008 at 4:51 pm

Then the deal makes little sense for us.

guierllNO MOta November 13, 2008 at 4:17 pm

i like you….but your crazy man – Frank the Tank

bucknersankles November 13, 2008 at 8:09 pm

HERE’S A BETTER TRADE CASTILLO STRAIGHT UP
FOR A PAIR OF SHOE LACES.

cgio07 November 14, 2008 at 5:41 pm

first off, dbacks already said they werent interested in castillo so thats over. Its gonna be tough for a team to part with 2 major league ready prospects and eric byrnes for two players on the backends of their careers…its just not reasonable

Gina November 13, 2008 at 4:14 pm

I wish hoping we could get Swisher. He couldn’t be any worse than Ibanez. Especially if his bat bounces back like it should, cause he’s a much better defender, which isn’t really saying much but w/e. And from the looks of it the Yankees didn’t give up anything.

ArmandoReynoso November 13, 2008 at 4:33 pm

Swisher is a .244 career hitter, so what is he bouncing back to? And outside of 1 year, he hits 21-22 HRs with a really bad average.

SovereignRonnie November 13, 2008 at 5:05 pm

OPS, Armando. Look at the OPS. OPS is the difference between Pat Burrell and Jeff Francoeur.

Hubie November 13, 2008 at 4:41 pm

I agree. This was a total salary dump. The Yanks gave up little. Swisher certainly could bounce back and have a decent year.

guierllNO MOta November 13, 2008 at 4:15 pm

NO…the Mets dont want a guy who hit .219 last year AND has little power AND is a lefty…..this team needs on offense:

A. RIGHT HANDERS
B. PEOPLE WHO CAN HIT FOR AVERAGE

if it werent for Delgado and Beltran HR’s would we have even been contending in September? we need a #2 hitter who can get on base, and a 6 & 7 hitter who can as well, and please be a righty, Wright is lonely….

Gina November 13, 2008 at 4:18 pm

Swisher walked 82 times last season, if his avg bounces back, which it should since he got really unlucky this season, he’d be a 370+ OBP guy.

And the righy lefty thing people keep bringing up is ridiculous considering we hit lefties better than we hit righties this season.

And I don’t even understand the people who can hit for average thing. I don’t want someone who can hit .290 if his OBP is only 300 or something.

guierllNO MOta November 13, 2008 at 4:22 pm

we need righties cause all season wheneevr a lefty specialist was brought in in the 7th or 8th we went down 1-2-3…period, it mustve happened in over 100 games too….it was ridiculous that 4-8 in the lineup would be lefties….cant have that, not in todays baseball

and you need a guy who can be a high BA and OBP guy…cmon, how many people short of jose reyes are a high BA without a high OBP, name 2.

guierllNO MOta November 13, 2008 at 4:23 pm

i am stressing BA/OBP over power is my point i was making earlier. we dont need power in a pitchers park, we need hits, hits and more hits (and walks)

Gina November 13, 2008 at 4:23 pm

How many people in the league are high avg and high obp and available?

NYMETSFAN718 November 13, 2008 at 4:28 pm

Raul Ibanez. 293 360. not high but above avg

kingman 26 November 13, 2008 at 4:33 pm

LOL! I was going to write that too, but figured Gina would kick my as*!!

And Ibanez would be cheaper, wants to play in NY, and makes up for the OBP with loads of extra base hits….

Gina November 13, 2008 at 4:39 pm

Ibanez would be cheaper than 7 million per? Not to mention Ibanez’s defense is terrible. Also if you look at Swisher’s previous season he hits for power, he just had a down year, this year.

kingman 26 November 13, 2008 at 4:42 pm

I know, I was totally kidding and meant that in respectful good fun….I think you are among the better posters on here….

I do think Ibanez might be cheaper than 7 mil, and I guess I am partial to him as I used to live in Seattle and follow the M’s a bit still.

I did look at Swisher’s career, and his stats are indeed much better than I thought…I was surprised.

And I hate the Yankees very much.

guierllNO MOta November 13, 2008 at 5:05 pm

Oh I am not saying it is nec. possible, I will take the RH bat first (Dye) but if that fails, honestly Id rather Abreu, gosh I hate myself for saying it, but the guy has a great eye at the plate, gets on a ton and is no worse defensively than Ibanez or Dye, better in fact.

I would love to see Casey Blake trollin left and takin a couple innings in right away fron Church, but that doesnt seem likely….

but OH WAIT, there are 7485634827563875 2b’s on the market this year and with the eception of Adam Kennedy all are righties!!!! hooray!!! give me Grudzy, or give me….2nd place.

mistermet5757 November 13, 2008 at 4:42 pm

it’s funny that you bring up OBP. weren’t we like 4th in the NL in OBP or something last year? that’s pretty good. our problem seems to be clutch hitting, and OBP doesn’t really help you when you are trying to get a clutch hit. that’s the only bad thing about OBP. you can’t score all of your runs on walks. you need a balance of high Avg and high OBP. the high OBP guys get on base, and the high avg guys knock them in. in the end, Swisher (if he performs like last year) is Luis Castillo with 20 homer power. bleh.

SovereignRonnie November 13, 2008 at 5:06 pm

GuillerNO… Swisher is a switch hitter.

Markiss87 November 13, 2008 at 4:16 pm

Now i figure i shouldnt take much to get dye, Just parnell, evans and whoever else.

NYMETSFAN718 November 13, 2008 at 4:20 pm

I dont think it should take much to get 2 of there guys

Necciai27 November 13, 2008 at 4:16 pm

The deal is as follows…

To the Yankees…

-Nick Swisher
-Kanekoa Texeira

To the White Sox…

-Wilson Betemit
-Jeff Marquez
-Jhonny Nunez (who has been traded three times in the past two years now, I believe)

dave27 November 13, 2008 at 4:18 pm

That’s a wash at best unless this Texiera guy is any good.

I don’t see how Swisher is much better than Betemit. I guess they needed the new Giambi in Oakland to become the new Giambi in NY.

Sylar November 13, 2008 at 5:06 pm

Betemit had a 6 to 56 K/BB rate. That’s hideous.

Swisher had a 82 to 134 K/BB rate. That’s good.

Swisher is way better than Betemit…

shmuu17 November 13, 2008 at 4:16 pm

From Rotoworld.com

According to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, the White Sox will receive two minor leaguers and one big-league reserve from the Yankees for Nick Swisher and Kanekoa Texeira.

If ESPN is correct, Jeff Marquez is one of the minor leaguers. We’re guessing the major league reserve in Wilson Betemit. Hopefully for the White Sox, the other prospect is better than Marquez, who is shaping up as nothing more than a middle reliever.

NYCESQ November 13, 2008 at 4:19 pm

I sense a trade with the Sox is imminent.

Genesis Does November 13, 2008 at 4:20 pm

XD, every yankee fan i know is going to get a “Yankees acquire Texeira” text right now

NYMETSFAN718 November 13, 2008 at 4:21 pm

LMAO, good one!!!!!

chico November 13, 2008 at 4:20 pm

Well then it’s official! The Yankees already got Texeira! They really snuck this one under the radar, getting Tex before the free agent signing period began, wow! Who would’ve thunk it! And look at what they gave up for him too! What a steal!

Fiya Minaya November 13, 2008 at 4:22 pm

Interesting deal. However, the Mets don’t need a left-handed bat unless they unload Delgado and his lousy attitude.

mark4212 November 13, 2008 at 4:27 pm

Please unload him….

Genesis Does November 13, 2008 at 4:28 pm

a part of me is ALMOST tempted to unload delgado + castillo in one deal to Toronto for a reliever like Brandon League, and let Evans and Murphy man the right side of the infield. The team would get a LOT younger, all the pressure would be off, because we would not be expected to win anything, and the team can grow together, with Wright and Reyes leading the pack.

Of course, the New Yorker in me says **** that, win NOW.

*sigh*

ArmandoReynoso November 13, 2008 at 4:37 pm

…and you were the GM of the team, you’d get fired!!!

atlantasnumber1metsfan November 13, 2008 at 4:33 pm

Tell me how Delgado’s attitude is lousy??

This ra.ra…bs…crap doesnt work…it’s like asking for a team full of ecksteins…

Delgado did everything he could for this team, would have gotten them to the playoffs too without the Wagner injury or more bullpen depth..his quiet leadership would have been more than enough without the injuries….

Fiya Minaya November 13, 2008 at 4:39 pm

Any player who quits on a manager (Willie) is a disgrace to the Mets uniform.

GravediggerHebner November 13, 2008 at 4:54 pm

It’s supposition that he quit on his former manager. It’s fact that he was recovering from hand surgery.

Gina November 13, 2008 at 4:56 pm

And a hip injury.

Markiss87 November 13, 2008 at 4:34 pm

Delgado is the man and his attitude is cocky and he has every right to be, trading him and not having manny on the team is the dumbest ish.. i ever heard esp if u want to win now.

NYMETSFAN718 November 13, 2008 at 4:38 pm

Delgado was our MVP last season. There is no way i trade his production. And not to mention what people dont seem to say, that is glove work was excellent last year. Delgado should stay he is not the problem.

joe the wanderer November 13, 2008 at 4:41 pm

your smoking if you think delgado is cocky. the guy is just an arrogant fool, “oh, we’re so good”. that is why this mets team got destroyed by the Nats, Marlins.

Pujols and manny are cocky.

NYMETSFAN718 November 13, 2008 at 4:44 pm

You can say what you want about him, cocky or not, arrogant or not, he was our BEST player last season, and carried the team on his back!!! and would have won MVP if the bullpen did not implode!!

Gina November 13, 2008 at 4:48 pm

Did you not become a fan until July?

cgio07 November 14, 2008 at 5:59 pm

hahahahaha

Markiss87 November 13, 2008 at 4:56 pm

Joe your not a true mets fan is you wanna trade delgado.

oleosmirf November 13, 2008 at 4:37 pm

trade Delgado for a middle reliever, haha funny, there are so many good options on the FA list why trade a 40 HR for one

HitTheSinkerBall November 13, 2008 at 4:47 pm

Trade Delgado for a KazZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

HitTheSinkerBall November 13, 2008 at 4:46 pm

Rotoworld.com Cubs GM is saying bye bye to Kerry Wood has the Cubs will not resign him. They only want to give him a 1 year deal while Wood wants a multi year deal which someone of course will give him.

He was on the market but I am sure most people thought the Cubs would resign him …. rather have him then Fuentus

cgio07 November 14, 2008 at 6:28 pm

i dunno..ive seen him close. Everytime he closes the game the bases are loaded…it just seems like if he were on the mets those runs would come in a lot more than they did while he was in Chi Town

NYMETSFAN718 November 13, 2008 at 4:47 pm

According to mlbtraderumors.com

The Mets like Bobby Abreu, but not his three year, $45MM asking price. I wish this is farthest from the truth!!!!!

Gina November 13, 2008 at 4:49 pm

You want them to want Abreu for 15 million per? Or do you not want Abreu at all?

NYMETSFAN718 November 13, 2008 at 4:49 pm

I dont want him at all!!!!

Gina November 13, 2008 at 4:52 pm

In that case I pretty much agree.

HitTheSinkerBall November 13, 2008 at 4:50 pm

I don’t want Abreu …. I like the idea of Dye … a righty bat for a year or two untill hopefully F-Mart can take over and he is a right handed hitter with pop which are lineup can use.

NYMETSFAN718 November 13, 2008 at 4:54 pm

There is no reason to believe that the Mets can get Dye without giving up the farm. With what the yankees gave up for swisher, who is a good player, the mets can pull one off too!! I hope!!

NYMETSFAN718 November 13, 2008 at 4:54 pm

cant**

joe the wanderer November 13, 2008 at 4:50 pm

the guy is allergic to the wall, why would the mets waste their time with him and the mets have church at right field.

oleosmirf November 13, 2008 at 4:54 pm

the Mets will say they like every player on the market as they should

but we need in no order a power RH Bat, 2 SP, K-Rod, setup man, 1 RP, 1 bench player

our best options are: Dye, Lowe, K-Rod, D. Reyes, and who knows about the other 2

NYMETSFAN718 November 13, 2008 at 4:56 pm

I think there is an order

KROD, setup man, lowe

CitizenSnips November 13, 2008 at 4:49 pm

David Wright got Silver Slugger.

Sylar November 13, 2008 at 5:02 pm

Did he also get the “I strand a runner on 3rd and I stink in the clutch award” (Just filling in obligatory blowhard idiot comment about David Wright beforehand)

As for the topic at hand…. great trade for the Yanks. Swisher got very unlucky last year, and this year he should be a .260, .390-.400 OBP who hits over 30 HRs..

Finally, Delgado: why does everyone hate this guy all of a sudden?? If it wasn’t for him, we’re done by early September.

Also, do you guys honestly think he decided “I’m going to blow chunks just to spite Willie”???

Getting younger is always a good thing, but not if that younger person is Nick Evans.

Markiss87 November 13, 2008 at 4:58 pm

I’m not irrated the yankees got swisher cause he isnt going to do much for them, its the fact that trade might have a impact on omar going after dye.

SovereignRonnie November 13, 2008 at 5:09 pm

Everyone saying that Swisher wouldn’t help because he’s lefthanded, and we need a righthanded bat…

SWISHER IS A SWITCH HITTER. Please please please look things up before you post.

GravediggerHebner November 13, 2008 at 5:33 pm

But it’s so much more fun to just “pull a Francessa” and spout our opinions/beliefs as facts!

bkfitz November 13, 2008 at 5:18 pm

Good pickup for the Yankees. Swisher would have been a good pickup for the Mets but I’m not going to lose sleep over it. He’s a 260/370 hitter who can hit 20-25 HR. He can play CF, not great. He doesn’t have arthritic knees (Matfooey), a noodle arm (Damon), phobia of walls (Abreu), or lack range to play the OF (Nady).

Coolpapabell November 13, 2008 at 6:24 pm

Yeah I think he would have been the perfect addition for the Mets but I’m not sure how good of a pick up that is for the Yanks. I guess he will play first base and they will can the Texiera idea and just spend most oftheir money on pitching. If Posada can’t catch, then he goes to first and Swisher moves to OF.

cgio07 November 14, 2008 at 6:50 pm

remember when every met fan wanted nady? Good times..

whatdatmean November 13, 2008 at 7:33 pm

The Mets should not have pursued Swisher under no circumstances as anything other than a bench player..
But, not for nothing….Im really getting sick of watching the Yanks get guys for a bag of balls when it would have cost the Mets at top 5 prospect…its getting a bit ridiculous!!!!

Judging from the market… and the rumors…i would LOVE:
1. sign a closer, not trade for one Krod >Fuentes no more than 3 years[+ an option for either]
2. sign a few BP guys….affeldt, lyons, biemel, embree, cordero, etc..
3. Sign Ollie or Lowe
4. swing a trade for DYE + VASQUEZ
eat a ton of money let them pick-evans, carp, kunz, gee, stoner, heilman, show, castillo….avoid parnell, fmart, flores, niese if possible
-both are very solid ROLE PLAYERS, who have been there and can still produce!!!!
yes, Dye is older….but is still performing, and we will be are getting younger as guys like castillo, delgado, + wags depart. sorry Dye…gotta learn left bc Church is Da man, and every Met fan will sweat him again sans concussion like they did in april.

09 Gangsta Mets
1-reyes, ss
2-beltran, cf[belongs batting 2]
3-wright, 3b
4-delgado, 1b
5-dye, LF
6-murphy, 2b
7-church, rf
8-schneider C
*yes, lefty at bottom, but murphy kills both sides, church showed he can hit lefties, schneid is platooning or gone, Bench can cover against tough Lefties
B-Tatis, Easley, Castro, Pagan, Endy

SP-Santana, Lowe/OP, Pelf, Vasquez, Maine
RP-smith, sanchez, feliciano, 3FA, cl-Krod
*AAA-niese, fmart, parnell, vargas, + evans mixed as needed
that rotation and lineup are nasty

tonyatlas44 November 13, 2008 at 8:38 pm

Omar MUST sign K-Rod. By the way, how about Randy Johnson as our no. 4 or 5 starter? He is now a free agent. I know he’s old, but just my 2 cents…please don’t hate.

www.metsextreme.com November 13, 2008 at 9:55 pm

These are the trades were i see Omar completly lost.. We never make little trades to get a young, average player, who could have a nice bounce back year.
Nope! instead lets open the wallets for every Free Agent on the Market!
Great, better chance of
Omar getting 35 year old Jermaine Dye, i want some youth on the team, we dont need any more aging mid 30 once was a superstar huge contract players.. this would have been a nice trade, but hey, it’s Omar, were gonna see a predictable Off-season.
either K-rod or fuentes
and probally sign 38 year old Derek Lowe
Woo-hoo

www.metsextreme.com November 13, 2008 at 9:57 pm

o i forgot Vasquez who is apprarently God on this website despite being old and having 4+ eras the past few years.

therealsince86 November 13, 2008 at 10:12 pm

Nice plug there, plug.
And Vasquez is old at 32? Wow, I am officially OLD.
Not only that but you must either not be able to read or can’t see clearly yourself. Thus you would have noticed Vasquez’s 2007 ERA.

cgio07 November 14, 2008 at 7:00 pm

haha you served that guy

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