Today, the A’s locked up first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher through 2011 with a club option for 2012. He had been due for free agency starting in 2011. The cash breakdown: $26.75MM for 2007-11, and $10.25MM with a $1MM buyout for the option year. That option becomes $12MM with a top five MVP finish over the life of the contract; I think there’s a decent chance of that happening.
Swisher is a 26 year-old switch-hitter with a career line of .249/.356/.475 in 1169 ABs. His walk rate is up near 20% this year; this should be his first 100 walk season. Swisher’s top two comps according to Baseball Prospectus are Tim Salmon and Harmon Killebrew. Both players were good hitters into their mid-30s, so this contract looks great for Oakland.
