MLB Trade Rumors: Atlanta Braves To Acquire Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn For Chris Johnson
The Atlanta Braves have reportedly acquired first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher and outfielder Michael Bourne from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Chris Johnson. Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports was the first to report that a trade was close, with Joel Sherman of the New York Post reporting the details.
Source: Braves close to acquiring Nick Swisher from Indians.
— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) August 7, 2015
Hear Chris Johnson going from #Braves to #indians for Swisher — Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 7, 2015
Hear Michael Bourne also coming to #Braves in deal
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 7, 2015
Swisher, 34, is currently on the disabled list and is in the midst of his second disappointing season with the Indians. Through just 30 games in 2015, Swisher is batting an anemic .198 with just two HR and eight RBI. It’s not an improvement over his 2014 season, in which he hit just .208 with eight HR and 42 RBI.
With cash going back to the Braves, it will likely cover the remaining salary on Swisher’s contract, a four-year, $64 million deal he signed prior to the 2013 season. As noted by Brown, the former New York Yankee is owed $15 million for next season with a vesting option for 2017. In fact, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports that the Braves will send over $10 million to Atlanta.
Swisher due $15m next season with a vesting option worth $14m in ’17. — Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) August 7, 2015
Source: Indians sending more than $10M to Braves along with Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher in deal, with Chris Johnson going to Cleveland.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 7, 2015
Also heading to Atlanta is the speedy outfielder Bourn. Much like Swisher, he is experiencing his second disappointing season in Cleveland after signing a four-year deal prior to the 2013 season. In 95 games, Bourn is hitting just .246 with zero HR and 19 RBI. Also, his speed has fallen off too, as he has stolen just 13 bases in 18 attempts.
But this trade will reunite Bourn with his former team as he was a Brave from 2011 to 2012.
Heading to Cleveland is the versatile infielder Johnson. After a career season in 2013, in which he hit .321, Johnson’s fallen back down to earth. In 2015, he is hitting just .235 with two HR and 11 RBI. He is signed through 2017 and with the ability to play both third and first base, he could be a useful piece for the Indians next season.
All told, this is a salary dump trade for the Indians as they rid themselves of two big contracts for next season. In return, they get a younger player who can play multiple positions for them for the remainder of this season and 2016.
This is the second major trade the Braves have swung in the last week. As the Inquisitr previously reported, the Braves were part of a 13-player, three-team trade involving the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins.
[Image by Jason Miller/Getty Images]
