The trade which brought switch-hitting, multi-position grinder, Nick Swisher, to the New York Yankees from the Chicago White Sox appears to be a good deal for the Bombers, mainly because the lack of talent given up by New York and Swisher’s good defense at a position the Yankees badly needed such improvement. But, it is NOT a good deal if you are seeking a highly productive hitter for a corner infield spot. The trade also contributes to the suddenly increasing logjam at the 1B/OF/DH spots.

The Yankees gave up utility man Wilson Betemit, and Double AA pitchers Jeffrey Marquez and Jhonny Nunez for the former 2002 Oakland A’s first round draft pick and AA right-handed pitcher Kanekoa Texeira. If you said the Yankees were getting a first baseman and a guy named Texeira, most Yankee fans would have been extremely happy.

Swisher’s best assets are his versatility and his defense. In 2008, he made 69 starts in center field, 47 starts at first base, 16 starts in left field and 11 starts in right field, combining for a .990 fielding percentage (7E, 675TC), including a .996 mark at first base (2E, 481TC).

He is expected to be the everyday Yankee first baseman.

Swisher makes the Yankees infield defense considerably better, as his decision making and ability to throw is much better than Jason Giambi, and Swisher will likely save many more errors on bad throws from Arod and Derek Jeter, too.

The players the Yankees gave up were all not expected to be on the roster in 2009.

Betemit was basically a .260 hitter with a little bit of power, but has never really reached the talent potential the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers (his prior employers) had envisioned. Maybe his lack of a full time role has contributed to his mediocrity, but the Yankees has really seemed to sour on him and he wasn’t a fan favorite, either. And with Kevin Russo’s emergence as a utility role player who can hit (.307 in Trenton and .341/.398/.494/.892 in the Arizona Fall League) had probably sealed Betemit’s fate in the Bronx.

The two minor league pitchers, Marquez and Nunez, are blocked by a multitude of similar arms currently in the Yankee system, and wouldn’t have made the big squad in at least a few years. Marquez won 15 games in AA Trenton in 2007, but was only 8-8 last season, and missed two months with a shoulder strain. He probably would have been in the 2009 Triple A rotation, but with Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, George Kontos, Alan Horne and with the emergence of Alfredo Aceves and 20 year old Zach McAllister, Marquez was way down the totem pole, and is not considered a top prospect anymore. Even Kei Igawa is rated higher. Also, Marquez was already on the 40 man roster, and his departure frees up a spot for another younger pitcher among Wilkins Arias, Anthony Claggett, J.B. Cox, Michael Dunn, Chris Garcia, Alan Horne, Steven Jackson, Jason Jones, Zach Kroenke, Kevin Whelan and Eric Wordekemper - all potential Rule 5 players. Dunn (AA Trenton) and Kroenke (AAA Scranton) are lefty relievers who thrived this season at the higher levels. Kroenke could be in the Bronx sometime in 2009.

Another Rule 5 prospect was Nunez. I saw Nunez several times during the AA playoffs. He became the closer in the finals, literally blowing away hitters with a real hard fastball. He had 26 strikeouts in his 19 innings in Trenton. The Yankee bullpen, though, is basically set for 2009 with Brian Bruney and Jose Veras as similar pitchers who have more experience. Also, David Robertson and Mark Melancon are clearly above Nunez, too.

While seen as the everyday Yankee first baseman in 2009, Swisher’s versatility is a big plus and he can move to a corner outfield spot or even take over CF. He is in the third year of a 5 year/$26.75 contract with a club option for 2012. He is scheduled to earn $5.3 million in 2009, $6.75 million in 2010, $9 million in 2011 and the 2012 option is $10.25 million. Considering his employer is now the cash rich Yankees, all those are reasonable numbers.

But, Swisher did hit only .219 (109-for-497) with 86 runs, 21 doubles, 24 home runs and 69 RBI in 153 games with the White Sox in 2008. His low batting average contributed to a low .332 OBP, and his OPS+ was a below average 92. In addition, Swisher was at his worst against the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays - the Yankees three main AL East foes - batting a combined .110 (9 for 82) with only ONE home run and TWO RBI’s. Swisher also hit only .186 with two outs and runners in scoring position. Those are pitiful numbers - even worse than Arod’s.

Swisher’s acquisition might also doom the Yankee return of Bobby Abreu, who is expected to be offered arbitration by the Yankees. Swisher at 1B also eliminates extensive play for Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon getting significant time at first base to get their bats in the lineup. With all those guys, plus Xavier Nady signed for 2009, where are all the at bats coming if Abreu accepts arbitration by the Yankees?  This trade also indicates the Yankees are confident Posada can continue to catch, but a 37 year old catcher might not catch a full season anyway, even if he wasn’t coming off serious shoulder surgery. If Posada can’t catch, where would he play with Swisher at first base?

The Yankees have to get at bats for all the above, and if CF is manned by Damon and not Brett Gardner, the outfield of Nady, Damon and Matsui might be the worst defensive outfield in baseball.

Despite Swisher’s really good defense and versatility, I don’t know if his numbers while playing first base would have been better than that of Juan Miranda, who would likely get 400 at bats in a platoon at first. Miranda crushes RHP and would equal Swisher’s production (.219/.332/.410/.742 OPS) from last season.

Also, near the end of last season, Swisher wasn’t even a full time player, garnering only 68 plate appearances in September, and he only had 4 at bats in the four game divisional series against Tampa.

Unless there is a trade like Damon to the Los Angeles Dodgers or Matsui to anybody, Swisher’s acquisition just contributes to the increasing logjam at first base and outfield, especially if Abreu accepts arbitration - a very real possibility. Swisher’s versatility is good, but his offensive production would need to significantly improve to make this a good trade.