Short and sweet:
With one last “before Christmas shopping run,” the Indians have officially pulled out the plug in their piggy pank. Nick Swisher is a member of the Tribe. According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, the deal is for four years, $56 million, with a vesting option (plate appearances in 2016) for a fifth year. The option would push the deal to $70 million.
This officially becomes the largest pact that the Indians have ever given a free-agent in team history, and is the next move in an exciting run of moves to rebuild the team on the fly.
Say what you want about the Dolans and company (most off-seasons, I’d be right along with ya), but this is the first year in the Dolan era where they seem intent on giving us something substantial to talk about and believe in. Granted, it’s like that new car smell and the giddiness could very well wear off quickly, but at least we have something to talk about instead of being forced to sit on our hands while other teams would be getting creative. And with two relatively sizable trade-chips potentially remaining in Cabrera and Perez, the movement might not be finished.
But all of that is for another day. Nick Swisher sits under the tree.
nice! they cant stop now tho! keep em coming…cuz the tigers look mighty good!
Hmm, not a fan of this move. I mean, I’m glad their spending since Dolan never does but I wish it were spent more wisely than Swisher. He’s a bum that Yankees fans were all too happy to get rid of because of his inability to hit when they needed it most. Ah well, I hope this signing doesn’t mean we won’t be able to get someone of value in the next couple seasons. We need pitching more than anything.
Holy crap. I can’t believe they opened up the checkbook like this. My opinion on Swisher is middlin’ at best (better than what we have anyway), but I’m ecstatic about the way we’ve been pushing the envelope this offseason. If nothing else, every move from Francona coming here on has seemed like a change in organizational attitude, and that can only be a good thing.
Swisher was the best remaining free agent player available, and arguably the best free agent position player period other than Hamilton. He’ll have more impact than Victorino would have. So okay, we’re going for it. Fine. That means don’t trade Cabrera and Perez. Get Joe Saunders and somebody with bad knees to DH and let’s have at it.