MLB Rumors: Nick Swisher Won't Be Worth the Money in Free Agency

Nick Swisher will reportedly seek a "Jayson Werth contract" when he hits free agency after the season, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.

In layman's terms, that means about seven years, $126 million.

The crazy thing is, Swisher may get closer to that number than you would think.

The suspension of Melky Cabrera for testing positive for testosterone could create a ripple effect down the line. Cabrera, who was hitting .346 at the time of his suspension, would have been a highly coveted outfielder on the market in 2013.

Swisher's value could now be boosted significantly after Cabrera's suspension, despite not being close to the value he thinks he's worth. There should be a high demand for corner outfielders.

If Swisher does become a high-priced free agent, teams should steer clear. 

The 31-year-old certainly has power (203 career home runs), but he's also a career .255 hitter. He's hitting .271 with 18 home runs, 69 RBI and 56 runs this season, primarily hitting second and sixth in the order. And there's no question he strikes out a lot (102 strikeouts in 391 at-bats this season).

Sure, these are respectable numbers overall, but respectable enough to warrant a contract over $100 million? I don't think so.

There's also the fact that Swisher certainly isn't going to win any Gold Gloves. He's primarily an offensive player, which drops his value a bit.

Swisher has been a solid player for the Yankees this season, but "solid" shouldn't be enough to propel him to an outlandish contract. 

A team that spends for need rather than value will fall prey to the free-agent market and undoubtedly offer Swisher a big deal instead of adding less-expensive pieces to patch holes throughout the roster.

The team that spends big for Swisher in 2013 will pay for it down the line.