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Nick Swisher Taking the Rest of 2016 Off, But Not Retiring

By JJ Keller

Mar 21, 2016; Bradenton, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Nick Swisher (23) sits on the ground after stretching to catch a throw from shortstop Erick Aybar (1) during the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2016; Bradenton, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Nick Swisher (23) sits on the ground after stretching to catch a throw from shortstop Erick Aybar (1) during the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /
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Veteran first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher announced through his Facebook fan page that he has decided to take the rest of the season off. 

Just a few short years ago, Nick Swisher was a well above-average player. Not a phenom, an All-Star just once back in 2010, but a very steady contributor nonetheless, someone every team would love to have in the 5-hole. That hasn’t been the case for a couple of years now, though, and he has now decided to sit out the rest of the 2016 season, opting out of his minor league deal with the Yankees. 

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Swisher wrote the following on his Facebook page:

"After the birth of my second child, I’ve decided to take a step back and spend the rest of this season full time with my wife and two daughters. Make no mistake, I am not hanging it up. I love this game with the same amount of passion that I had as a rookie 12 years ago. I want to thank the Yankees for giving me the opportunity to return to the organization that I love so much and wish them nothing but success for the rest of 2016. Despite not being at the ballpark every day, I will continue to train on a daily basis and evaluate my options for next season at the appropriate time."

Swisher is doing what he feels is best for him and his family at this point, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But it’s unfortunate that his career has gone the way it has since signing a 4-year, $56 million deal with the Indians back in 2013. Were he still a productive major leaguer, it seems extremely unlikely that he would take this time off.

His first year in Cleveland was okay, though not at the levels he had been at earlier in his career, hitting .246/.341/.423 with 2.1 WAR on the year. Things got even worse from there, as he hit .208/.278/.331 with -1.7 WAR. Last year was more of the same: .196/.312/.320,-0.6 WAR, playing for both the Indians and the Braves.

He had played 55 games in Triple-A with the Yankees organization this season, but still wasn’t all that productive down there, slashing .255/.297/.377.

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Nick says this doesn’t mean he his done with the game altogether, saying he is going to stay in shape, potentially setting himself up for a comeback in 2017. But he has been wholly unproductive for the better part of three seasons now, and he’s already 35. Stranger things have happened, but hit’s going to be an uphill battle if Swisher wants to give it another shot later on.
That said, I have always been a fan of Swisher’s, so I wish him and his family the best going forward.

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