sportsillustrated.cnn.com
For all those bank experts who keep saying players will never get the money they ask for, how come it keeps happening? Jose Reyes got $106 million when many said he was not worth it, Carl Crawford for $142 million and of course, Jayson Werth got $128 million from the Nationals. Not to mention the contracts Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder got this past offseason. Nick Swisher is a free agent at the end of this season. Of course, he will shoot for as much money in a long term deal as possible, which will probably end his four year career in New York.
We all know the Yankees are currently not the big spenders they were under George Steinbrenner. Hal Steinbrenner wants his payroll to be under the $189 million luxary tax line within the next couple seasons. Factor in the impending longterm contracts to OF Curtis Granderson and 2B Robinson Cano, there is not enough money to commit to a player like Swisher. He says the right thing about loving NY and wanting to be a Yankee, but he will have to take a home town discount to stay with the Yankees. Hey... maybe he will.
Swisher has amassed 203 HRs in his career to this point. If he gets to 20 this season (he already has 18), that will be 8 straight seasons of 20+ HRs. Despite his injury this season, he plays in almost all games going back to his time in Oakland. The Yankees fan may be critical over the fact that Swisher has struggled in the postseason. His impact on the Yankees will interest some teams, as they will refer to his presence in the clubhouse. But how much will that be worth to that team? Its safe to say he will get a multi-year offer from another team.
To me, it has to do with the amount of money he has to leave at the table. In a similar contract offer, he would take less money to stay with the Yankees. Even though its crazy to think a team will offer him $100 over 7 years, nobody though the Nationals were going to give the deal they did to Werth. And factor in the suspension of free agent-to-be Melky Cabrera, only Michael Bourn and possibly BJ Upton remain as more desirable OF FAs. Regardless of what some people think, somebody will overpay. Will the move be criticized? Yes. But I think Swisher will get paid a lot more money than he is worth.
I think its impossible to speculate what team will spend that kind of money on Swisher. If you don't think a team will overpay, how come most teams have multiple players on their team they have spent to much on? It has happened and will continue to happen. So just because fans cannot see NIck Swisher being a $100 million player, it doesn't mean an owner doesn't feel the same way. All it takes is one team.
Swisher has amassed 203 HRs in his career to this point. If he gets to 20 this season (he already has 18), that will be 8 straight seasons of 20+ HRs. Despite his injury this season, he plays in almost all games going back to his time in Oakland. The Yankees fan may be critical over the fact that Swisher has struggled in the postseason. His impact on the Yankees will interest some teams, as they will refer to his presence in the clubhouse. But how much will that be worth to that team? Its safe to say he will get a multi-year offer from another team.
To me, it has to do with the amount of money he has to leave at the table. In a similar contract offer, he would take less money to stay with the Yankees. Even though its crazy to think a team will offer him $100 over 7 years, nobody though the Nationals were going to give the deal they did to Werth. And factor in the suspension of free agent-to-be Melky Cabrera, only Michael Bourn and possibly BJ Upton remain as more desirable OF FAs. Regardless of what some people think, somebody will overpay. Will the move be criticized? Yes. But I think Swisher will get paid a lot more money than he is worth.
I think its impossible to speculate what team will spend that kind of money on Swisher. If you don't think a team will overpay, how come most teams have multiple players on their team they have spent to much on? It has happened and will continue to happen. So just because fans cannot see NIck Swisher being a $100 million player, it doesn't mean an owner doesn't feel the same way. All it takes is one team.
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