All told, this is a salary dump trade for the Indians, as they rid themselves of two big contracts for next season. With all of it factored in along with the cash sent to Atlanta, the Indians will save around $9 million.
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I wonder how that Indians-Braves deal went down. In 56 games as a part-time player in 2015, Johnson is slashing.235/.272/.320 with two home runs and 11 RBI. Bourne, who also played for the tribe for almost three seasons, batted. Along with Swisher, he signed a four-year, $48 million contract prior to the 2013 season. Swisher actually was nearly traded earlier this season to Atlanta, but due to money the trade never happened.
Not only did Johnson lose his third base job this season, he had fallen so far on the depth chart that he was essentially Atlanta’s third-string first baseman, drawing starts at that position only because first baseman Freddie Freeman was hurt and utilityman Kelly Johnson was traded, and even then Johnson had to fight off Joey Terdoslavich for playing time.
Either way, it’s obvious that the Braves figure that it’s worth it to take on all of this money (though the cash considerations in the deal will probably help out a little bit, here) in order to move Chris Johnson, and they’ve done just that. The centerfielder has hit only.246/.313/.294 in 95 games with Cleveland this year, and is owed $14 million for next year with a $12 million vesting option for 2017 kicking in if he reaches 550 plate appearances in 2016. Swisher in 30 games with the Indians this season hit just.
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.
Swisher, who also signed in the same offseason as Bourn, had many injuries during his time in Cleveland and had trouble getting onto the field.
Heading to Cleveland is the versatile infielder Johnson. 233 with two home runs and 27 RBI. 246 with 19 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Swisher hit a disappointing. It’s not an improvement over his 2014 season, in which he hit just.
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Meanwhile, they’ve saved $21.5 million in 2016 payroll, while adding $9 million in 2017 payroll and $1 million in 2018 payroll.
