Swisher to Yanks, Teixeira to ?
The Yankees traded some spare parts to get first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher from the Chicago White Sox.
Does that mean the Yankees are out of the bidding for Mark Teixeira?
No. But maybe it tempers the Yankees' all-out approach to get him. The Pinstripes need pitching and CC Sabathia is the prime target. New York will be spending big bucks for him and maybe more arms.
Getting Swisher means the Yankees have an alternative at first and don't HAVE to get Teixeira.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox lurk nearby.
The idea of Boston getting Teixeira is gaining appeal, assuming the contract is not forever, and the Red Sox can trade Mike Lowell (Hello Phillies).
If the Red Sox can give J.D. Drew - a good outfielder who bats anywhere from 5th to 7th in the lineup - $70-million for five years, how much more would Boston pay for the younger, stronger and switch-hitting Teixeira, who would bat 3rd or 4th?
Six, seven, eight years? $16-million per, or higher?
The Yankees will want Teixeira, too, but they also have Swisher.
The Angels will want to keep Teixeira, but may be out-bid by Boston on a long term contract (the Angels could always settle on a shorter deal for the other big free agent bat: Manny Ramirez ... they can have him).
Posted at 07:03 AM
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Unfortunately, Boston is going to likely be a 3rd choice destination for Tex. Its easy to see what was clearly meant to be an "ensurance pick up" of Swisher as a deterrent for the Yanks to spend dough on the reliable first baseman, however consider a couple of things.
1) Swisher batted .219 last year. The Yankees know that and are not stupid. They are a team unwilling to gamble when it comes to winning. Acquiring a bat like Tex's is priority two if pitching is priority one. (They finished 7th in the AL last year, very untypical)
2) Tex idolized Donny Baseball when growing up. He even wore 23 in texas as tribute. Perfect and logical continuation of fan-favourite, defensive Yankee 1Bmen Mattingly (Tex's hero)-23, Tino-24, Tex-25. We yankee fans plan to forget Giambi ever happened.
3) If Swisher is enough to deter the Yanks from bidding on Teixeira, then what do you call Lowell (a Boston mainstay), and Youkilis? The yankees have more roster flexibility since they are also in need of an OF/Utility player. Siwsher will assume Betemit's role and act as a major upgrade in the clubhouse.
4) Aside from shedding a cool 80 mil, the Yanks will also see the revenues from the stadium. Money is not an issue. Cashman knows a 1B like Tex will not come along for quite some time and Juan Miranda is not quite there yet.
Tex will be in either LA or NY next year. Sorry Bosox.
Posted by Brian
November 16, 2008 03:27 AM
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