Nick Swisher: Trade Rumors Start Again with Abreu Signed

With Bobby Abreu off the market and the Atlanta Braves still in need of a corner outfielder, Nick Swisher has just become a more attractive chip.

According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, the Braves became more interested in signing Abreu as his contract demands came down.

With Abreu off the market ,they now have turned their attention to Swisher, and to a lesser extent, Xavier Nady.

Atlanta thinks Swisher is the better option because he is under contract for three years as opposed to Nady’s one.

They also think he is a better defender and gives them more versatility, because he can play all three outfield spots and first base.

The Braves only problem with Swisher is the $22.05 million he is owed over the next three seasons. They asked the Yankees to eat part of his salary, but were quickly turned down.

I still find it hard to believe these two teams match up.

The Braves do seem truly interested, but there doesn’t appear to be any real reason for the Yankees to trade Swisher.

As it stands right now they appear to be under last year’s payroll, so a salary dump doesn’t seem appropriate. So they would likely only make a deal if it made the team better.

That’s the problem, the Yankees don’t need any pitching, either at the major league or minor league level.

They also don’t need any infielders. They could  use outfield prospects or a major league-ready catcher.

Unless the Braves get desperate and offer a high-ceiling prospect, which is unlikely, I don’t see this deal happening.

It just doesn’t make sense from the Yankees point of view.

In fact, the only way I can see this deal happening at all is if the Yankees decide that they want to move Swisher’s contract to make a run at Matt Holliday next offseason.

Nothing else makes sense here.