Cleveland Indians To Sign Nick Swisher To Four-Year, $56 Million Deal

According to Mark Feinsand, the Cleveland Indians will sign Nick Swisher to a four-year, $56 million deal, not including a vesting option for a fifth year at $14 million based on plate appearances in 2016.

The Red Sox have been linked to Nick Swisher on-and-off for much of the offseason, but this news would seem to end that pursuit. Unfortunately, this is perhaps the first time where a player the Sox showed interest in went elsewhere at an affordable price. At 32, Swisher is a bit of a risk at four years, but he's a strong all-around outfielder and 4/$56 is eminently reasonable.

With Swisher off the table, it seems likely that Jacoby Ellsbury will stay in Boston for at least the beginning of the season. The potential replacements for the outfielder have one by one dropped off the map with little apparent interest being shown by the league in his services. If he rebuilds his value in the first half without propelling the team itself into contention, they will likely look to move him again come the trade deadline.