Red Sox Talking to Nick Swisher

Boston recently added Jonny Gomes on a two-year deal, but aren’t done shopping for their 2013 outfield according to a recent report from the Boston Globe that describes them as in “ongoing talks” with Nick Swisher. The switch-hitting outfielder has spent the last four seasons playing with the Yankees, and is not going to come as cheaply as Gomes, who signed a two-year deal with $10 million at the end of last week.

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It’s easy to see why Swisher, who turned 32 today, would draw some interest in the free agent market. With a career triple slash line of .256/.361/.467, his bat is a proven commodity, he can reliably play either corner outfield spot as well as first base, and he hits almost equally well from both sides of the plate. In short, he’s a versatile, consistent veteran with an excellent track record in durability.

With the Red Sox focused on rethinking their organizational philosophy after dumping several large, recently inked contracts in the tail end of 2012, one would have to think they’re going to avoid making any major free agent splashes in the near future, but Swisher isn’t likely to command a high-end salary. Chances are whoever signs him can count on the usual 4.0 WAR-range production over the next few seasons, and that’s a useful piece for any team.

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