New York Yankees: Passing on Carlos Beltran for Nick Swisher Was the Wrong Move
October 15, 2012 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Lately, everyone is really furious with Nick Swisher.
He’s currently hitting .153 in the postseason, and his comments about Yankee fans have not sat well with anyone following the first two games of the ALCS.
Swisher is playing himself right out of New York, and as an impending free agent after the season, many fans like myself are hoping he doesn’t return for 2013.
Over the last four years, Swisher has been known as one of the more likeable players on the team who has done well in the regular season, but his postseason numbers have been downright awful.
Before the 2012 season, the Yankees could have actually gotten rid of Swisher by declining his $10.25 million option for the season.
Just think, Swisher’s postseason struggles wouldn’t be the Yankees’ problem right now, especially considering that they passed on getting Carlos Beltran last winter.
After the Yankees passed on Beltran to keep Swisher for 2012, the former New York Met signed a two-year, $26 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals
During the regular season, Beltran hit .269 with 32 home runs and 97 RBI for the Cardinals, while Swisher hit .272 for the Yankees with 24 home runs and 93 RBI.
The postseason numbers, however, is where Beltran and Swisher differ dramatically.
Swisher is hitting .153 (4-for-26) with no home runs and one RBI with eight strikeouts. Swisher’s numbers are downright lousy.
Beltran, on the other hand, is hitting .384 (10-for-26) with three home runs and six RBI with two strikeouts. Beltran’s are simply fantastic right now.
And the Yankees could have had Beltran. In fact, last October just after the Yankees were eliminated by the Tigers in the 2011 ALDS, I had written a story suggesting the Yankees go for Beltran over Swisher.
Some people were against the idea of giving the 35-year-old Beltran a long-term deal, whereas keeping Swisher for another season was the popular choice.
Fast forward one calendar year later, and having Beltran under contract for two years over Swisher for the one doesn’t seem so bad now, does it?
I would have done it. And I think Brian Cashman knows he should have too, but now it’s too late.
Instead, Swisher will be a free agent after this season and will likely be calling a new team home in 2013 while Cashman will be trying to figure out who is manning right field in April.
Beltran in pinstripes would have looked really nice right about now, getting crucial hits and key home runs.
Instead, it’s strikeout after strikeout and fielding blunders with Swisher.
This is clearly a move that did not work out in the Yankees’ favor.
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