Nick Swisher Talks About Becoming a Yankee

One of the first moves the Yankees made this offseason was the trade of Wilson Betemit to Chicago for Nick Swisher (the deal included a few minor leaguers as well).

Trading for Swisher was the first step in an attempt to upgrade the Yankees' offense.

At the time, the Yankees had their new first baseman.

It wouldn’t be long before they signed another first baseman, Mark Teixeira, and Swisher became the odd man out at first base.

He was disappointed, but it didn’t last long, as he realized how much better his team would be.

“For maybe a few hours I was bummed. But how could they pass up a player like Mark?” Swisher said. “I’ve played against him for years, and he’s a great hitter and a great first baseman. But I did wonder where that left me.”

A role as the spare outfielder is where it left him.

Swisher has experience playing center field, but it’s unlikely he’ll get much playing time there.

Instead, he’ll probably get a decent amount of time sharing right field with Xavier Nady and left field with Johnny Damon, keeping the latter fresh.

Swisher can also fill in occasionally at firstbase and probably once in a while in center. Throw in a few DH appearances and that’s five spots he can fill in each week.

“Joe (Girardi) said that there are at-bats for all of us, and I believe him,” Swisher said. “He’s going to find a way to keep everybody happy. I’m not worried about it. It’s going to be a better situation than last year, no matter what.”

So, while he isn’t exactly thrilled about his first-base position being taken over by someone else, he should still expect a decent amount of playing time this season.

And he will get it, permitting he doesn’t play the way he did in 2008, a year in which he would hit a career-low .219.

Swisher has said he learned a lot from his '08 campaign, and it will motivate him this season.

“That season taught me a lot because it was the first time I really failed in the majors,” Swisher said. “I had three pretty good years in Oakland, and then that all happened. It motivated me all winter.”

Whatever his role is this season, Girardi likes the versatility he brings to the lineup.

“He offers you different things,” Girardi said. “On-base (percentage), power; he works the count and that helps in getting the starting pitcher out of the game...it’s something as a manager you like, having those options.”