As first reported by the New York Daily News‘ Mark Feinsand, the Indians and Nick Swisher have agreed to a 4 year deal worth $56 million.
BREAKING: Nick Swisher has agreed to a four-year, $56 million deal with the Indians. Vesting $14M option for a 5th year could make it $70M.
— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) December 23, 2012
The deal also is reported to have a $14 million vesting option for a fifth year could make the deal worth up to $70 million over five years. The vesting option looks to be based on plate appearances in the fourth year of the deal, and is “easily” attainable, according to Mark Feinsand:
Swisher’s $14 million vesting option for 2017 is based on plate appearances in 2016. If he’s healthy, it should happen easily.
— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) December 23, 2012
The signing will also result in the loss of the Indians second-round draft pick in the Rule 4 draft this coming June (their first round pick is in the top-10, and is therefore protected).
Swisher is a West Virginia native who attended The Ohio State University. He was a first round pick by the Oakland Athletics in the 2002 draft.
The deal represents the second-largest contract in team history, behind only Travis Hafner’s four-year $57 million contract extension signed in 2007. With respect to free agents, this is the largest deal in the club’s 112 year history.
Swisher batted .272/.364/.473 in 537 at bats for the Yankees in 2012, along with 24 home runs and 93 runs batted in. He will likely fill the void in RF left behind in the wake of the Shin-Soo Choo trade.
[Related: The Pitch to Swish]
