Major League Baseball Trade Rumors: Atlanta Braves To Acquire Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn For

Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports reports that the Braves are close to acquiring Nick Swisher from the Indians. He’s owed $16.5 million over the next two seasons with a $10 million club option in 2018. Swisher is due to make $15 million in 2016, with a $14 million vesting option for 2017; however, the Indians will be sending $10 million to the Braves as part of the deal. In total, the Braves will pay up to $9 million in salary for Bourn and Swisher while knocking $9 million off the books for 2017, when they intend to be contenders.

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.

Furthermore, the Braves are giving themselves more long-term flexibility with this move.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the full deal is Swisher, Bourn and cash going to Atlanta in exchange for Johnson.

Johnson is hitting. 235 with two homers and 11 RBI in 56 games this season.

Swisher, 34, has appeared in only 30 games for Cleveland this season, hitting.198/.261/.297 with two home runs and missing significant time due to injury. 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.

Bourn’s probably the best player in the deal. 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, a 32-year-old center fielder, is hitting.246/.313/.294 with 13 stolen bases in 95 games. Bourne has struggled at times to live up to his 2012 All-Star season. The Indians just sent out a press release making the deal official.

Over seven seasons in the Major Leagues Johnson has recorded a batting average of.