FanPost

Is Nick Swisher Done?

Fangraphs recently asked the question: is Nick Swisher Done? They largely cover the basics: he's an older player, coming off his age 33 season (and older players ain't what they used to be as Tom Verducci likes to remind us). Further: he was injured and terrible last year. So, can Bro come back and have a productive season?

My thought: yea, probably. No, I don't think Swisher is going to be a great player, he's not going to produce as one of the top first basemen (or outfielders) in the American League, and as my friend Cody George loves to remind me, "that isn't the type of player you spend $15mm a year on." However, needless to say, I disagree with that analysis as it costs a team roughly $7mm per WAR in the free agent market, and I can see Swisher returning to a 2 win player next season. I doubt he can keep that type of performance up over his age 35 season, but hey, that's the gamble you take when you sign players in the free agent market: you largely pay players for better performance in the first half of the contract, and eat bad performance later.

I'm more concerned about Michael Bourn. Fangraphs wrote about his decline in mid-Setpember, discussing how his leg injuries have sapped him from the two skills he possessed. Michael Bourn's only plus skill was his speed, which he used to become an elite defender and baserunner. He could also maintain higher BABIP rates. However, his contact skills are declining (which means he can't use his speed) and his speed seems to have declined as well, which has lowered his value as a defender. Finally, Bourn no longer stays on the field, playing in career lows both in 2013 and 2014. Swisher is a good candidate to at least bounce back, I think Michael Bourn is a good candidate to fall off the face of the earth.

Fangraphs: Is Nick Swisher Done?

Fangraphs: Small Things Adding Up: Michael Bourn's Speedy Decline

FanPosts are reader-generated, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Covering the Corner or the Covering the Corner staff.