Offseason Trade Reaction - Swisher to Yanks

One of the more suprising trades this offseason, the Yankees acquired 1B/OF Nick Swisher for a pile a garbage. Summing it up:

The Yankees got ::: Nick Swisher (OF/1B) - Kanekoa Texeira (RHP)
The White Sox got ::: Wilson Betemit (INF) - Jeff Marquez (RHP) - Jhonny Nunez (RHP)

My Thoughts: The Yankees won this deal by a long shot. Wilson Betemit will never be anything but a pinch hitter with decent power and a horrid eye. The worst part is, he will be competing for a starting job - obviously the Sox did not do their homework on the stone glove "infielder". However, if they want someone who can give them 15 HRs and a .235 AVG in a full season, Betemit is the guy. Jeff Marquez was a sandwich pick a while back, and throws a low 90's fastball with a decent sinker. Marquez could be a back end starter, especially if the White Sox go through with teaching him a cutter. He gave up in his best season at AAA 166 hits in 155 IP, although did post a 3.65 ERA and only allowed 11 HRs. Marquez will never be much though, if anything at all. Jhonny Nunez was acquired mid-season by the Yanks for .260 career AAA hitter Alberto Gonzalez. Nunez posted a 1.86 ERA in 20 IP in AA for the Yanks, but before coming over, he had posted a 5.22 ERA in A+ ball for the Nats minor league affiliate.

Nick Swisher, 28, was shuffled around from CF to 1B to the corner outfield spots all season long. He bat in every spot in the order but the 3rd hole, getting at leas 25 ABs. Swisher, unhappy with the way he was being used put up a .219 AVG but still drew 82 BBs with 24 HRs with over 502 PAs. He gains 5.3 mil in '09, 10 mil in '10, 11 mil in '11 before his contract expires. I think Swisher will return to a 25 HR / .250 / .370 / .470 bat with better D at 1B than Giambi could ever give. Sorry to upset you Yankee fans, but this move shows we won't be getting Tex. The Yanks are not paying good money to see the guy sit on the bench. Kanekoa Texeira, 22, can't be overlooked in this deal either - Last season in 38 IP at A+ ball, Kanekoa posted a .93 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP with 36 K's. He went up to AA to post 22 IP of 2.01 ERA ball. In 144 career minor league IP, he has 149 K's.

Cashman started off what should be an exciting offseason by making an excellent trade. He gave up nothing, a great buy low deal. Kenny Williams will be taking a lot of heat for this trade if Swisher puts up some of the production he had in previous years.