The Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians have completed a three-player deal that sends outfielders Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn to Atlanta for third baseman Chris Johnson, Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports first reported.
According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, the Indians will be sending more than $10 million to Atlanta to complete the deal from a financial standpoint.
With the deal finally completed, the season-long saga between Chris Johnson and the Braves is finally over. It hasn’t been a secret to either party that the team wanted to trade the veteran infielder and that Johnson wanted to be traded.
Johnson, 30, hasn’t been the same player that competed for a batting title back in 2013 where he slashed .321/.358/.457 with 12 home runs and 68 RBI. In 56 games as a part-time player in 2015, Johnson is slashing .235/.272/.320 with two home runs and 11 RBI.
Johnson was signed to a three-year extension worth $23.5 million from former Braves general manager Frank Wren. That was one of a handful of questionable signings that led to his departure. For about a year now the Braves have been trying to move Johnson, who is owed $19 million through the 2017 season.
Swisher, 34, has been on the disabled list for much of the 2015 as he has dealt with inflammation in his left knee for the past couple of seasons. The veteran outfielder/first baseman is coming off a 2014 season where he played in only 97 games slashing .208/.278/.331 with eight home runs and 42 RBI. This season, Swisher has only appeared in 30 games slashing .198/.261/.297 with a measly two home runs and eight RBI.
Swisher is under contract for the 2016 season worth $15 million, and has a vesting option for 2017 worth $14 million if he has 550 plate appearances.
Bourn, 32, is back in a Braves uniform as he played for Atlanta in 2011-12. Then as a free agent he signed a four-year deal worth $48 million. Bourn is guaranteed $14 million in 2016 and just like Swisher has a vesting option for 2017 worth $12 million if he has 550 plate appearances. Bourn has under performed and dealt with injuries has a member of the Indians. In 2015, he is slashing .246/.313/.294 with zero home runs and 13 stolen bases. In three seasons with Cleveland, Bourn has stolen 46 stolen bases. In 2012 as an All-Star with Atlanta, Bourn stole 42 bases. His game is predicated on speed. Let’s see if a return to Atlanta can get him back to stealing bases at a higher rate.
The $10 million Cleveland is sending to Atlanta helps cover the almost $30 million Swisher and Bourn are set to make. What makes this a win for Atlanta, is the fact they will clear more cap space heading into 2017 when their ballpark opens.