MLB Rumors: Yankees bringing back Nick Swisher on minor league deal
By Jason Evans
The New York Yankees will be adding some depth in the outfield and first base in bringing back Nick Swisher.
The New York Yankees are looking to add a little depth in their outfield and first base, so they are bringing back a part of their 2009 championship team.
Nick Swisher was released by the Atlanta Braves during spring training and now will be joining the Yankees on a minor league deal. Swisher will be reporting to AAA Scranton where he will be playing mainly first base. He can opt-out of his deal if he isn’t on the major league roster by June 15.
Swisher will give the Yankees some extra depth at the position. Mark Teixeira has a hard time staying healthy. Top prospect Greg Bird was supposed to give the Yankees depth at the position, but he will miss most, if not all, of the 2016 season after undergoing labrum surgery.
The Yankees backup first baseman currently is Dustin Ackley, who doesn’t have a ton of experience at the position. They added Chris Parmalee during the spring as insurance as well and he and Swisher will be playing the position in AAA.
It’s been a struggle for Swisher over the past couple of seasons. The veteran has battled knee injuries the past couple of seasons and he only hit .196 last season with a .631 OPS in just 76 games. He hasn’t played in more than 100 games in two seasons.
For the Yankees, it’s basically a free look to see if Swisher has anything left in the tank. If he hits well in AAA, bring him up, have him backup Teixeira and maybe DH here and there to use him as a stick off the bench.
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