That is Kanekoa Texeira, a no name pitcher in a deal that they New York Yankes made today with the Chicago Whitesox. The exciting player in the deal was Nick Swisher, who along with Texeira went to the Yankees in return for Wilson Betemit and minor league pitchers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez. Marquez is a pretty highly rated pitching prospect for the Yankees who are loaded with pretty highly rated pitching prospects. He missed some time due to injury and struggled a bit in AA and AAA ball this year, but his past reveals some successes. This isn't a future ace the Yankees are trading away, but he's no slouch and someone who could compete for a job on a rotation next year.
Nick Swisher had an abysmal season last year going .219/.332/.410 and that's after leaving Oakland for a homerun park in Chicago. He still drew 82 walks and at 27 years old with no injuries it could have been just a bad flukey season for Swish. The numbers help defend that, with Swisher having a .251 BABIP this season, the lowest of his career after two years of .308 and .287. If those numbers return to form he should be his usual Oakland self hitting for a pretty poor average, good on base and good power, something like .255/.375/.480.
This trade officially ends Giambi's career in pinstripes even at a discounted price to play for the Yankees he's out the door. Moreover, Swisher can play the outfield and some center, giving the Yankees some flexibility at that position. Not a great fielder by any means if Swisher can hit like he usually does his bat can allow him to play CF over Melky and Brett Gardner, making Gardner a really nice explosive guy off the bench. Lastly, if the Yankees don't want Teixeira (the good one) they have a guy for first, and if they do they have someone to use in negotiations to show they aren't desperate for a First Baseman. All in all I'd say the Yankees win on this, unless Wilson Fatemit actually does something.
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