With the dust still settling from the acquisition of Curtis Granderson in New York, the Yankees have some decisions to make about their 2010 outfield.
What happens to Melky Cabrera? Do they entertain the idea of bringing back Johnny Damon or Hideki Matsui? Are they done adding outfielders?
This might be the perfect time for the Chicago Cubs to give the Bronx Bombers a call and ask about Nick Swisher's availability.
Swisher could some into Chicago as the anit-Milton Bradley. A fun-loving, goofy 29-year old switch hitter that played in Chicago for the White Sox in 2008 and, by all accounts, loved the city.
The Yankees enjoyed a productive 2009 from Swisher, who batted only .259 but had a robust .371 OBP. His .869 OPS would rank him near the top of the Cubs roster based on 2009 numbers, and his 29 homers would be a welcome power injection into the lineup.
Unlike Bradley, who's numbers favored him batting right handed despite Cubs' GM Jim Hendry's assertion he would bring value from the left side of the plate, Swisher is fairly consistent from both sides of the plate. In 2009, he had a .872 OPS as a righty and a .866 as a lefty, batting primarly from the left side.
So at the plate, Swisher would be an asset for the Cubs.
Swisher is also relatively versatile in the field. He isn't going to win any Gold Gloves probably, but Swisher has played center, right and first base with a fair amount of competency in his career, and would allow the Cubs to move Kosuke Fukudome back and forth between center and right based on matchups. He could also give Derrek Lee an occasional day off.
So in the field, Swisher could be a asset for the Cubs.
Financially, the Cubs wouldn't be asked to pay a ton for Swisher's services, either. He has two years and $15.75 million left on his current contract, which means he would be under the Cubs' control through 2011. That gives the Cubs time to develop a player like Tyler Colvin, and doesn't give Hendry one more veteran that could walk away after just one season.
Contractually, Swisher could be an asset for the Cubs.
But what current Cubs assets would it take to get Swisher out of New York?
Consider the trade the Yankees just made to acquire Granderson. They unloaded a couple of young pitchers, Ian Kennedy and Phil Coke.
Coke was one of the Yankees' primary left-handed setup men, with 21 holds last year. The Cubs might be able to persuade the Yankees that Sean Marshall could fill that role in their bullpen, since the Cubs have re-signed John Grabow for two more years.
Marshall could be an asset for the Yankees.
In Kennedy, the Yankees dealt away a 24-year old starter that some viewed as a potential player in the Yankees rotation in coming years. But with CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett locked up long-term, and the farm being gambled that Joba Chamberlain will become a solid starter, the Yankees didn't have room for the highly-touted prospect.
The Cubs could offer some to the Yankees with a young starter that could work either in the bullpen or the back end of the rotation with a big-stage pedigree in Jeff Samardzija. The former Notre Dame receiver loves pitching for the Cubs, but has spent more time driving to and from Iowa than he has as a starter for the organization.
Samardzija could be an asset for the Yankees.
It might take more than a couple young pitchers to get Swisher out of New York, but it might not, also. Brian Cashman might want to bring in some younger arms to replace the ones he just dealt out, and the Cubs might be willing to move a couple pieces to make that happen for the reigning Champions.
A deal between the Cubs and Yankees, with Swisher coming to Chicago for a package centered around Marshall and Samardzija, could be an exchange of assets that could help both teams.
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