Yankees get Swisher

Another trade, another guy I think the Angels could have used, and the Yankees didn't even give up that much. Yankees get Swisher and a minor league pitcher named, believe it or not, Texiera. White Sox get Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez, and Jhonny Nunez. None of the pitchers have projections worth writing about, Marquez is the only one ranked well by Baseball America last year, but he's nothing great, a pitch to contact guy. Betemit will take over third for Joe Crede. I wonder if a couple of generic pitching prospects + Matt Brown could have gotten a deal done for the Angels, maybe go as high as offering Sean Rodriguez, or try another route and offer a speedy major leaguer like Figgins.

Swisher, like Josh Willingham, could have filled one of the 3 lineup holes the Angels have, with 1B, DH, and a corner OF spot open.

Projections: Betemit 256/323/433, about a league average 3B, not that good a defender.

Swisher: 242/358/440, 24 HR, 76 RBI, 85 R, 86 BB, 132K, about 3 wins above replacement as a corner outfielder, though for the Yankees he'll likely play center or first. In the past, the Yankees have had other weird split position guys like Lee Mazilli, CF/1B, and Roy Smalley, SS/1B. Johnny Damon in 2007 played 48 in center and 5 at first base.