The New York Yankees made a qualifying offer to Nick Swisher, but he is likely to reject it before the deadline on Friday. That will make him a free agent, and he will likely field calls from a number of teams, including the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners, according to Mark Feinsand.
Rangers, Mariners reportedly interested in Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher is planning on rejecting a qualifying offer from the New York Yankees and exploring the free agent market. When he gets there, the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners will likely be among the teams that greet him.
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This will be the 31-year-old Swisher's first foray into the free agent market, and he could be one of the most sought-after players this winter. The Rangers could view him as a bargain-priced alternative to their own free agent outfielder, Josh Hamilton. Hamilton is reportedly asking for $175 million, and Swisher could likely be had for less than half of that. Swisher is also more durable, having played at least 148 games in ever season for the last seven.
The Mariners are likely looking at any and all available hitters this winter, and Swisher is certainly no exception. His ability to play the outfield corners and first base is likely particularly attractive to the M’s. His career .256/.361/.467 hitting line does not exactly make him the elite middle-of-the-order hitter they desire, but his durability and stability could be very beneficial to their rebuilding process.
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