The Cases for and Against Nick Swisher

IN FAVOR OF THE TRADE

1. We're buying low. Christ, the guy batted .219 last year. If he doesn't improve, he'll be gone by June.

2. Let's say it outloud: "Scott Brosius?"

3. How many 1B/cf are there? (Nobody ever called Jason Giambi a 1B/cf.)

4. Marquez, Betemit and Jhonny aren't exactly Phil Hughes and Robbie Cano. I'm bumming most about Marquez leaving, and he's a midling prospect.

5. Sterling can trade, "YOU CAN BET ON BETEMIT!" for "ONE SWEET SWISH FROM SWISHER!"

6. We've been screaming for changes. This is a change.

7. He's 27. ("Scott Brosius?")

8. He's a switch-hitter. (Though at .219, swish-hitter is more appropriate.)

9. Maybe this is nothing more than a utility upgrade of Betemit, who obviously is not a realistic 2B-SS backup anymore. We can live with that.

10. We got a pitcher named Texiera. Who knows?

11. This is part of what George Bush would call a "strategerny." We can't judge this trade until the full remake has run its course.

AGAINST THE TRADE

1. It suggests we're not chasing Mark Teixiera. If Boston signs Teixiera, while we settle for Swisher, this will be our defining Johann Santana move for the 2008-09 off-season.

2. What are the odds of a team having two guys named Texiera? (What would be really crazy: If we next trade for an Ernie Sabathia and/or D.W. Burnett.)