The Atlanta Braves finally unloaded Chris Johnson and his contract, but it came at a cost – they acquired the ugly contracts of Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher from the Cleveland Indians for him. Atlanta is also getting a yet to be known pile of cash in the trade.
We’ve acquired INF Chris Johnson from ATL for Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn & cash.
More soon: http://t.co/jwr0rBKYM5 pic.twitter.com/alkilMKjVv
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 7, 2015
This is more a swap of bad contracts than anything else. Swisher is owed the balance of a $15 million salary this season, and $15 million in 2016. Bourn is owed the balance of $13.5 million this season, and $14 million in 2016. Both players have vesting options for 2016 based on playing time in 2016. Johnson is “only” owed $17.5 million through 2017, including a $1 million buyout on a 2018 club option, and the balance of a $6 million salary this year.
Roughly, Johnson is still owed $19.5 million while the Swisher/Bourn duo are owed $38.5 million, so expect the cash involved to be significant. In fact, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman notes that the cash will offset the pair’s salary next year.
The Braves will receive cash considerations to offset the cost of Bourn and Swisher, who will combine to make $30M next year.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) August 7, 2015
Furthermore, the Braves are giving themselves more long-term flexibility with this move. By adding the $29 million owed to Swisher and Bourn to their 2016 payroll, they’re clearing Johnson’s $9 million salary from their 2017 payroll, leaving them with just $55 million committed that season.
As for the on-field contributions, they likely won’t be significant. Even though Indians third baseman Giovanny Urshela is hitting just .241/.276/.358, it’s superior to Johnson’s .235/.272/.320 line over 56 games. Like Urshela, Johnson is also stronger against lefties than righties, so he won’t even be able to spell the rookie against southpaws.
Swisher hasn’t played in nearly two months because of a knee injury, and is hitting just .198/.261/.297 this season in 30 games. Once he’s ready to come off the DL, he’ll likely get playing time for the Braves at first base to replace the injured Freddie Freeman. But Swisher hasn’t played first at all this year, and if his knees can’t handle it, I imagine Atlanta will just end up eating his contract and releasing him to free up a roster spot.
Bourn’s probably the best player in the deal. He’s hitting .246/.313/.294 this season with 13 stolen bases. His once elite defense in center field has dramatically declined, and if he gets playing time in Atlanta, it’ll probably either be to spell the struggling Cameron Maybin in center or to supplant Eury Perez in left (which wouldn’t make a lot of sense, given that Perez is just 25 and is hitting a respectable .288/.352/.324).
This trade really comes down to this – the Braves cleared money from their long-term payroll. The Indians cleared money from their short-term payroll. Cleveland now has a little bit more money to play with next season to add to a team that was supposed to a contender this season, while Atlanta now has a little more room to play with in 2017, when they’re aiming to be a contender.
