Rosenthal: Yanks should trade Swisher to keep Damon
December 19, 2009, 11:00 am by iYankees · 5 Comments
Why is that Nick Swisher gets absolutely no love?
For instance, observe the following, via Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
The addition of Johnson as the team’s primary designated hitter doesn’t preclude the return of Damon as a left fielder/DH. At least it shouldn’t, unless the Yankees are truly on a budget-slashing kick. At this point, I almost feel like taking up a collection for them.
Johnson reportedly will cost the same as Granderson in 2010 – $5.5 million. The Yankees gave left-hander Andy Pettitte a raise from $10.5 million to $11.75 million. Damon is starting at a higher number — $13 million — but why not give him a two-year deal at that salary? The Yankees could trade right fielder Nick Swisher and still claim they’re minding the budget, not that anyone buys their little game of pretend.
The idea of trading Swisher in order to retain Johnny Damon is completely devoid of logic.
Not only is Swisher younger and more athletic than Damon is, in addition, the colorful outfielder is more useful from a positional standpoint (he plays 1B, RF, and LF), he is better defensively, and he is signed through his prime and at a very reasonable rate. Conversely, Damon is poor with his glove, is nearing 40, is no stranger to minor albeit nagging injuries, and would be considerably more expensive, despite his many flaws. In fact, if the Yankees were to trade Swisher and remove, from their books, the $5.3 million — a veritable financial bargain — he is owed in 2010, they still would not have saved enough to completely cover the cost of resigning Damon. Thus, trading Swisher so as to keep Damon is an utterly inane concept, one that rails against the team’s espoused philosophy (getting younger, etc.).
If the Yankees wanted to clear payroll for Damon, they could attempt to trade Melky Cabrera and Chad Gaudin, as those two moves would ultimately save the club close to $6 million (more than what Swisher will earn next season).
Clearly, there’s a reason Ken Rosenthal’s job is to report trades rather than formulate them.
Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images
GOod idea but id rather have holliday but who know anything is possible
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I don’t understand something. Why is it that a lot of reporters or writers feel as though the Yankees should trade Swisher, Melky or anyone else. Take Swisher as an example, he as it was pointed out is comes very cheap in today game. Nick is a very productive hitter, he is young and a possibly fan favorite amongst of fans. He never hear any issues or problems with him. He is a switch hitter who just so happens to be loved (Or at least it seems) by a lot of his teammates.
I don’t understand why the Yankees would trade Swisher, in order to sign a guy who MIGHT be with them for 2 years at best, who is HORRIBLE defensively, hits left-handed and would severally be over paid.
Melky & Nick are both two players that are young, effective and comes in at a relative bargin. Both hitters are switch hitters, which is great to have on a team that is heavy with left handed hitters.
Bottom line…Sometimes people just report to sell
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Rosenthal is a good reporter, but obviously is not that bright.
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News Flash: Sources close to MLB report the following
Yankees win Al East by 8 games, capture the AL Pennant and win the World Series in 2009. Keep this quiet, it appears to be a secret.
So the question is, “why does everyone want to get rid of Melky and Swisher and Gardner like they are last weeks trash”? I think they were part of that. Young/Cheap.
Granderson and Johnson replace Damon and Matsui. Younger/Cheaper.
The pitching staff is virtually intact and most of the young and coming pitchers should be better than last year.
So barring disaster we are arguably as good as last year with the same chemistry but a little younger, a little more athletic, a little cheaper.
If we add a Ben Sheets, the pitching staff is potentially much stronger also.
Alleged Superstar hitters at every position don’t necessarily guarantee the WS, been there tried that. You need guys that hit different types of pitchers,create havoc and can get on base in high leverage situations when some of the big guys might be baffled by top end pitchers.
I don’t get it.
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Ken. R this rumour stinks like the work of that dasterdly team in BS! Stop trying to plant the seeds of doubt in cash-man’s brain aye. The logic of the trade as explained fruitfuLly above makes NO sense.
Cheers
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