With holes in both right field and at first base, the Red Sox could use a guy like Nick Swisher, at least on paper. Boston’s front office appears to agree.
The New York Post reports that “a person with knowledge of the [Red Sox’] situation” says Swisher is “on their radar,” with the Yankees unlikely to spring for a multiyear contract now that the club is trying to get under the luxury tax threshold and stay there.
But while Swisher, who was a decent power hitter and great clubhouse presence in New York, seems like a good option for Boston on paper, there are plenty of reasons why Swisher wouldn’t fit in with the Red Sox. The biggest drawback is that Swisher, while a fun-loving guy, didn’t take kindly to the criticism heaped on him during the playoffs last year. If he were to pull a Johnny Damon and go from New York to Boston, he’d have plenty more of that to deal with.
His requesting a multiyear deal at his age (32 on Sunday) could also be a drawback for the Sox, who want to be more careful with their spending this offseason.
Swisher has played in the major leagues nine seasons, with his batting average and power totals getting a boost after he signed with New York in 2009. He was a .272 hitter last year with 93 RBIs and 24 home runs.
