The Atlanta Braves nearly managed to rid themselves of third baseman Chris Johnson and his contract….and all they would have needed to do was take on Nick Swisher’s equally as burdensome contract from the Indians.
Fox’s Ken Rosenthal had the initial report on Sunday night.
Sources: #Braves, #Indians discussed trade of Chris Johnson for Nick Swisher in early June, before Swisher went on DL with knee issue…
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 12, 2015
#Braves backed off due to disparity in 2015 salaries (Swisher $15M, Johnson $6M). Swisher now owed ~$22M thru 16, Johnson ~$20M thru 17.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 12, 2015
Johnson has been even worse for the Braves in 2015 than he was in 2014, hitting a pithy .252/.294/.333 with just one home run in 44 games. The 30-year old is in the first year of a three year, $23.5 million extension, and is still owed $17.5 million (including a 2018 buyout) in 2016 and 2017.
The 34-year old Swisher has been a non-factor for the Tribe this season, hitting just .198/.261/.297 over 30 games, playing just eight innings in the field all season. He’s owed the balance of a $15 million salary this season, and is owed anther $15 million in 2016. He’s currently on the DL with a knee injury.
Even though the trade is dead (for now, at least), it would have been an odd match. I assume Atlanta simply would have released Swisher and eaten the remaining salary owed to him, if only to clear their books for 2017. Swapping Johnson for Swisher would have only added another $7.5 million to their payroll in 2016, pushing them just north of $65 million – still nowhere near their roughly $100 million limit.
As for Cleveland, I imagine Johnson just would have been a bench bat for them – Giovanny Urshela is playing fine at third, and first base is locked up by Carlos Santana. Swapping the salaries of the two players would also free up some payroll room for the Indians this year and cut their 2016 payroll to below $60 million.
So to those Braves and Indians fans looking for something resembling an exciting return for Johnson and Swisher…good luck. If the two players do get moved over the next month, all that Atlanta and Cleveland will get in return is another bad contract.
