After three successive seasons of over 20 home runs for the Yankees,In December 2012, Nick Swisher accepted a 4 year $56 million offer from the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees received a draft pick which they used to select somebody named Aaron Judge. The Indians thought they were getting a dependable power hitting run producer who could play two positions. His batting average was .262 and .270 in his last two years with the Yankees but to the Indians, it was the run production that they wanted.

In his first year he produced similarly to his prior years. He had a .246 average with 22 home runs but only 63 RBIs.  The next two seasons , Swisher was limited due to knee surgeries on both knees. In those years he batted .208 and .198. He hit 8 and then 2 home runs with 42 and 8 RBIs. 

The Indians were able to trade him to the Braves, passing part of his contract to Atlanta. In 2015, Swisher hit .195 with 4 home runs for the Braves. He was released with the Braves paying him $15 million for the next season.

Nick Swisher never played in the majors again. Basically for a total of $70 million, there was one year with 22 home runs and 63 RBIs. The last four years, he played very little and did not produce at all.

Both the Indians and Braves paid for very little. Meanwhile, the Yankees got four productive seasons from Swisher and then let him go only to receive Aaron Judge as compensation. It does seem that this Swing Badder contract was great for the Yankees and Swisher but very regrettable to the Indians and Braves. 

Stats
Year
Average
HRs
RBIs
Runs
1st Year
.246226374
2nd Year
.20884233
3rd Year
.19662514
  • Player Image
    Swing Badder

    NICK SWISHER

    • Team: Cleveland Indians
    • Contract Info: $14M/yr
    • Years Played: 3/4
    • Seasonal Average
    • AVERAGE: .224
    • HRs: 12
    • RBIs: 43
    • Runs: 40