Indians Interested in Free-Agent Outfielder Nick Swisher
Cesar Tordesillas
Cleveland, OH
The Cleveland Indians are making a serious push to acquire free-agent outfielder Nick Swisher to fill the vacancy at right field.
According to a team source, Swisher is scheduled to visit the Indians' facilities and listen to the organization's offer.
The Indians can offer Swisher the full-time role in right field as they recently traded outfielder Shin-Soo Choo to the Cincinnati Reds in a three-team, nine-player deal.
In that deal, the Indians have acquired outfielder Drew Stubbs to join Michael Brantley in the outfield. If Swisher decides to join, Cleveland's outfield picture will now be complete.
Aside from the Indians, the Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles are also interested in Swisher's services.
Last season, the switch-hitting Swisher hit .272 with 24 homers, 36 doubles and 93 RBIs in 148 games for the New York Yankees.
He also posted a .364 on-base percentage and a .473 slugging percentage. Swisher has hit at least 23 home runs in five straight seasons and he has collected at least 80 RBIs four years in a row.
Recently, several free-agent outfielders have received lucrative deals, including Josh Hamilton (Angels), B.J. Upton (Braves), Angel Pagan (Giants), Torii Hunter (Tigers), Melky Cabrera (Blue Jays) and Shane Victorino (Red Sox).
The Indians offered Victorino a four-year contract worth $44 million before he opted for a three-year, $39 million deal with Boston.
Last week, free-agent first baseman Mark Reynolds agreed to a one-year contract worth $6 million plus incentives to play for the Indians.
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