The Atlanta Braves are reportedly shopping veteran first baseman and outfielder Nick Swisher, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
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Braves hope to deal Swisher
Friday, Dec. 11
The Braves have been as active as any team this offseason—trading Shelby Miller, Andrelton Simmons and Cameron Maybin already—and appear ambitious to continue their rebuild by dealing veterans for prospects.
Swisher was acquired by Atlanta in a trade with the Cleveland Indians in August, but part of the perk was that the Indians sent cash in the deal, which also included Michael Bourn.
Swisher is owed $29 million over the next two seasons, per Spotrac, and Bowman indicated the Braves probably won’t rid that full sum off their books in a potential trade:
Swisher posted a slash line of .195/.349/.339 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 118 at-bats over 46 games, including 36 starts—not exactly the figures the Braves are expecting from the amount they’re paying the 12-year veteran.
The Braves already have All-Star Freddie Freeman at first base and an outfield corps of Bourn, Nick Markakis, Hector Olivera and Ender Inciarte, acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Miller trade.
Even for a team that will likely struggle again in 2016, there is no room for Swisher and his hefty price tag. Should they find a worthy suitor that has prospects to offer, the Braves would be wise to eat some of Swisher’s contract and move on.
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