Swish: Wait till next year
SAN DIEGO — Nick Swisher’s bid to get back to the big leagues has come to an end. For now, anyway. Swisher opted out of his minor-league deal with the Yankees Saturday, announcing on his Facebook page that he will take the rest of the 2016 season off to spend time with his family following the birth of his second daughter earlier this week. He has not ruled out playing again next season.
“After the birth of my second child, I’ve decided to take a step back and spend the rest of this season full time with my wife and two daughters,” Swisher wrote. “Make no mistake, I am not hanging it up. I love this game with the same amount of passion that I had as a rookie 12 years ago.
“I want to thank the Yankees for giving me the opportunity to return to the organization that I love so much and wish them nothing but success for the rest of 2016. Despite not being at the ballpark every day, I will continue to train on a daily basis and evaluate my options for next season at the appropriate time.”
Swisher, who was released by the Braves toward the end of spring training, agreed to a minorleague deal with the Yankees on April 13. He was in the final season of a four-year, $52 million deal he signed with the Indians after the 2012 season.
Swisher played first base and designated hitter for Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre this season, hitting . 2 55/. 297/. 377 with seven home runs and 25 RBI in 55 ga mes. The Yankees bypassed him several times despite injuries to Mark Teixeira, Dustin Ackley and Chris Parmelee.
“I don’t think we would have signed him if we didn’t want to take a look at him,” Joe Girardi said. “We just felt some guys were ahead of him at the time, so he was never called. I respect what he did. He had another baby, so go and enjoy that. I’m not so sure that this will be it for him.”
GREEN’S DAY
Chad Green will start Sunday’s finale in San Diego, pushing CC Sabathia back to Monday as Girardi didn’t want Sabathia to hit or run the bases.
Green is 6-6 with a 1.54 ERA in 14 starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, his strong numbers earning him the chance in the majors.
It will be the second big-league start this season for Green, who allowed six runs (four earned) over four innings on May 16 in his debut in Arizona. He made another relief appearance on June 12 for the Yankees, throwing a scoreless inning. Girardi hopes Green’s nerves are less of an issue than they may have been in his first start.
“Any time guys get called up at an early age, the first time they’re nervous, the second time they’re less; that’s just the way it goes,” Girardi said. “He’s been throwing well. They thought his breaking ball had improved and he was pitching the best down there.”
INJURY FRONT
Carlos Beltran remained out of the lineup, available as a pinchhitter off the bench. Girardi remained optimistic about having him back Monday for the opener against the White Sox, most likely as a DH. … Conor Mullee, who left Friday’s game with numbness in his right hand, was placed on the 15-day DL Friday. He underwent Thoracic Outlet Syndrome tests, which came back negative.