Cleveland Indians first baseman Nick Swisher had a rough season plagued by injury - and now he could be on the trading block, according to a report by FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
In a series of tweets Tuesday afternoon, Rosenthal cites sources saying that the Indians could try to move the 33-year-old Ohio native for another big-money contract.
Sources: #Indians exploring wide range of options, including a trade of Swisher for another player with an inflated contract.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 18, 2014
Swisher owed $30M in 2015-16, with $14M vest for 17. Others with inflated deals: #Phillies’ Howard, #Braves’ B.J. Upton, #Orioles’ Jimenez.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 18, 2014
Those players are not necessarily of interest to #Indians in an exchange for Swisher. But those are the types of concepts being considered.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 18, 2014
The Indians signed Swisher to a 4-year, $56 million deal in late 2012.
In two seasons with the Indians, Swisher has had his ups and downs, recording numbers below the threshold he set in four seasons with the New York Yankees.
Swisher hit .246 with 22 home runs, 63 RBI and a .341 OBP in 145 games in the Indians' 2013 playoff season. This past season, though, he played only 97 games, eventually having season-ending knee surgery in August.
