Crasnick: Yankees acquire Swisher

The Yankees have traded for Chicago White Sox OF/1B Nick Swisher, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. Crasnick's source says Jeff Marquez will be headed to Chicago and it's uncertain if any other players are involved.

In 588 plate appearances last season, Swisher batted .219/.332/.410 with 24 home runs and 69 RBI. While his numbers were down, Swisher has the ability to draw walks (97, 100 and 82 his last three seasons) and plays solid defense.

In 14 starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season, Marquez went 6-7 with a 4.69 ERA in 80 2/3 innings. He also struck out 33 while walking 24.

Swisher, who will turn 28 in 12 days, split time last year at both first base and center field, both glaring needs for the Yankees, so this deal makes sense. He is signed through 2011 with a club option for 2012 and will make $5.3 million in 2009, $6.75 million in 2010 and $9 million in 2011. The option is for $10.25 million but can become $12 million with a top-5 finish in the MVP voting in any year between now and the end of the contract (thanks, Cot's Baseball Contracts).

If Swisher can find a way to get a few more hits and continue to draw walks, this has the potential to be a great trade.

The Yankees still have decisions to make regarding the outfield spots, but bringing Swisher into the fold is a nice move.

What do you of this trade?

Update - 4:15 p.m.: Crasnick has updated the article. Wilson Betemit and Jhonny Nunez have also been sent to Chicago. The Yankees will receive minor leaguer Kanekoa Texeira (no, not that Teixeira).

I like this trade even more with Betemit gone.

Even more reassignments

According to Peter Abraham, Alan Horne, Jeff Marquez and Chase Wright were all assigned to the minor league camp after pitching in today's game.

They join:

Daniel McCutchen, Steven Jackson, Steven White, Scott Strickland, Mark Melancon, Eric Duncan, Jesus Montero, Marcos Vechionacchi and Austin Romine.

Due to the Francisco Cervelli injury, a catcher (either Montero or Romine) will be brought back from the minor league camp.

Hank talks Santana - again

Hank Steinbrenner finally acknowledges that Johan Santana would cost a lot.

From Kat O'Brien at Newsday:

"The payroll would just be out of this world this year," Steinbrenner said of potentially adding Santana, "but only for this year. When you've got to trade top young talent and pay a lot of money, it gets very risky."

If the Yankees do complete a trade for Santana, Steinbrenner said they would not go beyond a five-year contract extension (one that expires after the 2013 season).

"I wouldn't do it if it were a six- or seven-year contract," Steinbrenner said. "I wouldn't go past five, on an extension."

For once, he's right. You shouldn't give a 28-year-old pitcher seven years. However, why did he need to say this publicly?

Steinbrenner also mentions that there is nothing new on the Santana front. For those playing along at home, the last offer for Santana was thought to be Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Marquez and a fourth prospect.

Cashman dissents from the owner

Yesterday, Hank Steinbrenner said that final decisions rest with the owner (himself). He also said he was still leaning on pulling the trigger on a Johan Santana deal.

Brian Cashman doesn't want to hear any of it.

From today's Bergen Record by Pete Caldera:

"This is what the rotation is, and this is what we're going [to spring training] with," Brian Cashman said Friday. The Yankees' general manager added that he has between now and Aug. 31, the final day he can add players who could be on the postseason roster, to "put together the best team out there on the field."

...

"We have budgets and players that we want to hold on to," Cashman said, speaking generally about "some of the hurdles that prevent you from doing certain things."

I obviously agree with Cashman's sentiment. The Yankees have spent over $120 million in luxury tax the last five seasons and haven't won a World Championship. They are sick of spending a lot of money for first round losses in the playoffs and realize that it is time for a change.

Steinbrenner became the mouthpiece all of a sudden and is starting to not listen to his baseball people. This could be a big problem.

Via MLB Trade Rumors, there is a report in today's Star Tribune saying that the Twins realize that they won't get both Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy in a deal, and that they would accept other players instead of Kennedy - leaving it at Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Marquez and possibly Kei Igawa.

If this report is true, it only gives Steinbrenner more of a reason do the trade. I still wouldn't do it, even though I'd love to get rid of Igawa.

Stark on Santana

ESPN's Jayson Stark is reporting that the Twins may wait until Spring Training for the right package in a Johan Santana trade. He also mentions that it's possible that he and his agents will refuse to waive the no-trade clause if a deal isn't completed sooner.

Stark says that the Yankees' last offer was Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Marquez and an unnamed fourth prospect who was never agreed on. That offer is off the table unless Hank Steinbrenner brings the Yankees back into discussions.

He says that the Red Sox haven't improved their offer of Jon Lester, Coco Crisp and prospects Justin Masterson and Jed Lowrie. He quotes a source who says that the Twins want the Mets, who still seem to be involved, to "rip up their whole farm system" for Santana, which is something I highly doubt they'll do.

The longer this drags on, the less inclined I am to pull the trigger on any deal for Santana. I'm willing to go to battle with the pitchers the Yankees have now, especially if Joba Chamberlain begins the season in the bullpen, as it is beginning to look like. The Yankees would have their starting rotation complete and the bullpen would be better fortified with Chamberlain in the mix early on. I'm starting to believe that Santana will at least begin the season with the Twins.

Hank on Santana and Prior

Hank Steinbrenner, a journalist's dream, opened his mouth again today. He spoke about the Yankees' chances on acquiring Johan Santana and Mark Prior.

From Kat O'Brien:

"There's still an outside chance that we get him," Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said by phone yesterday afternoon. "We'll see. We've got to do things based on what we think is best. I think myself and [general manager] Brian [Cashman] are going back and forth. I think we're comfortable staying where we are, and I certainly think we'd be comfortable getting Santana, too."

The Pioneer Press of St. Paul, Minn., reported yesterday that "there's buzz that a Santana trade could be made within days," but didn't specify to which team. (Newsday)

If the Twins' demands of Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera and another high prospect have not changed since the Winter Meetings, I would not pull the trigger. However, if the deal Bill Madden reported is still on the table (Hughes, Cabrera, Jeff Marquez and Mitch Hilligoss), I'd have to accept it.

On Prior:

In another personnel matter, Steinbrenner said he did not expect the Yankees to go after free-agent righthander Mark Prior. The 27-year-old was once one of the top up-and-comers in baseball but has been oft-injured. This season, he was 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA in nine starts for the Cubs before shoulder surgery.

"We kind of looked into it, but at this point, no," Steinbrenner said of the Yankees' interest in Prior.

That's too bad. It wouldn't have hurt to take a chance on the right-hander if the price was right and he appeared healthy.

Cashman walked away from Santana deal because of money

From Bill Madden:

But it is more than just Cashman's belief in Hughes that suddenly put the Yankees in full retreat after Hank Steinbrenner had sounded the "Charge!" on Santana. Believe it or not, the final decision not to go through with a deal that was on the table - one that would have sacrificed Hughes, Melky Cabrera, 23-year-old Double-A righthander Jeff Marquez and 22-year-old A-ball third baseman Mitch Hilligoss - was based on money.

Once Andy Pettitte announced he was returning to the fold for $16 million, it meant the Yankees had committed $408.4 million this winter to retain six players. The acquisition of Santana would have meant tacking on another $125 million to that figure, and Cashman, who never wanted to do the Santana deal in the first place, blanched at the prospect of adding another $20 million to a payroll that was already on the cusp of $200 million, again. In this respect, the timing of Pettitte's decision to return - while initially seen as giving the Yankees additional leverage in their dealings with the Twins on Santana - actually gave Cashman the "out" he needed. (New York Daily News)

If money wasn't a factor, that trade seems like a steal for the Yankees. However, terrible free agent contracts from earlier this decade have proven to finally inhibit the Yankees' spending.

That said, I could see why Cashman does not want to trade Hughes either. Madden cites that Cashman's legacy will be the big three of young pitchers. Trading them instead of developing from within would show that Cashman does not have the power he sought within the organization.