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Trade Thought: Beltran for Swisher


By Mike Silva ~ May 14th, 2011. Filed under: Mike Silva, New York Mets, New York Yankees.

With Carlos Beltran surprising everyone with his performance to date (.294, 8, 24) it’s no surprise talks of trading him began immediately after his third homer sailed over the fence in Colorado.

Beltran’s only value to the New York Mets is the rest of this season. They will not receive a draft pick since they waived the right to offer him arbitration in his current contract. It’s unlikely that playing in the National League is in the best interest of his knees, which are ticking time bombs waiting to happen. Beltran’s best course of action is to find an American League team where he can play the field and DH. There is actually one across the river that might need his services.

With Nick Swisher struggling and Jorge Posada showing some age it may behoove Brian Cashman to bring in another bat. Last year, they rolled the dice on Lance Berkman, sending Mark Melancon to Houston for the aging slugger. Berkman didn’t work out, but he never hit as well as Beltran has to date this year.  There haven’t been many significant trades between the two teams, but in 2003 the Mets did send their closer across town when the Yankees were in dire need of bullpen help. If the Mets aren’t realistically in the race for a playoff spot, and Nick Swisher continues to struggle, would the teams consider a Beltran for Swisher deal?

Sending Beltran would be on a different scale. You would potentially be giving the Yankees a piece that could win them a pennant. Beltran is the kind of impact player you have never seen exchanged between the two teams. Remember, these aren’t the “cold war” days of George Steinbrenner. Hal is a far more pragmatic individual, and the Wilpons have no ill will for their Bronx counterparts. If there is ever a time for a trade like this to happen its now.

The Yankees would be getting an impact bat that could play right field and DH. You probably would see even more power out of Beltran thanks to the short porch in right field. He also has post season experience, and knows what comes with playing on the stage in New York. Essentially, he is the perfect rental due to certainty.

The Mets would be getting a younger player, someone who always had a positive impact on the clubhouse, and potential piece for the 2012 club. There is a $10.25 million dollar option on Swisher that Sandy Alderson could buy out for $1 million if he so desires. A typical Swisher season makes that price tag very reasonable. It also allows the Mets to ease in Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and evaluate him on the big league level.

I think Nick Swisher would become a fan favorite at Citi Field. He is a great complementary bat that gets on base and brings a positive winning attitude to the clubhouse. Maybe he could have the same effect on David Wright that he had on Alex Rodriguez. I am not suggesting the Mets clubhouse culture is bad, but a carefree soul with a winning pedigree wouldn’t hurt.

Would the Yankees do it? If you throw in someone like Tim Byrdak, a situational lefty they desperately need, I think there is a reasonable chance.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com
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10 Responses to Trade Thought: Beltran for Swisher

  1. Chakrabs
    May 14th, 2011 at 11:08 am

    Terrible trade. With Swisher struggling so much, why should the Mets think he’d be any different at Citi? His contract is overvalued, and if they just let him go, the entire Beltran trade will have been a complete wash. No, I’d rather the Mets get someone that fills a hole – a catcher, a 2b, a SS prospect for when Reyes leaves, etc. The Mets have a ton of outfielders in the minors, Swisher is the last guy the Mets need.

  2. Mike Silva
    May 14th, 2011 at 11:49 am

    Shamik

    You could probably do a B pitching prospect and someone like Dave Adams (2b) – I could live w/ that

    Swisher’s 09 and 10 seasons do have value in the 10 million range – look at Jayson Werth!! Very similar

  3. Paul
    May 14th, 2011 at 11:58 am

    I’d rather have prospects than someone who’s been a Yankee for a couple of years. No matter how well Swisher performed, I would feel like rooting for him. Remember how popular Tom Glavine was with Mets fans?

  4. Paul
    May 14th, 2011 at 11:59 am

    That should read “would NOT feel like rooting for him”

  5. Christopher Fee
    May 14th, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    I like Swisher a lot, but I think Sandy Alderson is much too smart to let himself get hosed to that degree. Beltran is clearly a far better player than Swisher, and the Mets could get much more for him from other teams.

  6. Stu B
    May 14th, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    @Paul: Personally, I had no problem rooting for Glavine as a Met. He pitched some great games while he was here. By your logic, Met fans also should have not wished to root for guys like Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, Felix Millan, and Mike Piazza because they came from the Cardinals, Expos, Braves, and Dodgers, respectively. As Jerry Seinfeld said, you root for the laundry!

  7. Stu B
    May 14th, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    If they want to trade Beltran to the Yankees, they’d be better off getting a pitching prospect like Hector Noesi or David Phelps.

  8. vtmet
    May 14th, 2011 at 4:08 pm

    Swisher isn’t “struggling”, he’s returned to what he is: a poor hitter that draws walks and hits HRs on occasion…last season was a fluke with his batting average…

    Swisher’s seasonal average (minus last year’s “career year”):
    .250;
    .232;
    .254;
    .262;
    .219;
    .249;
    .221;

    Swisher also has 832 strikeouts in 946 games; combine that with David Wright’s 841 strikeouts in 1041 games & that is a ton of strikeouts in the “heart of the order”…plus, Swisher is in his final year of his contract with a $10 Mil option…

    What would be the point? Simply to fix the Yankees problems?

  9. tnt1528
    May 14th, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    id trade beltran for a box of used condoms..just dump him while he still has value and ppl forget he has a bum leg.

  10. Russ Cress
    May 16th, 2011 at 11:27 pm

    I don’t get the “I would not feel like rooting for him” because he played 2 years for the Yankees first. What difference does that make?

    As a Yankee fan, I never thought twice about rooting for Cone, Gooden or Strawberry as they were productive parts of a championship team. It’s not like Swisher is a “true Yankee” who came up through the system, he was a smart trade where he was simply a good value pick up acquired when his value was low who became productive with a change of scenery.

    As long as he’s good, what does it matter where he played in the past? I just don’t see the logic in the statement. Must be a Mets thing.

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