Report: Red Sox Have Nick Swisher ‘On Their Radar’ for Right Field, First Base

With holes in both right field and at first base, the Red Sox could use a guy like Nick Swisher, at least on paper. Boston’s front office appears to agree. The New York Post reports that “a person with knowledge of the [Red Sox'] situation” says Swisher is “on their radar,” with the Yankees unlikely to spring for a multiyear contract now that the club is trying to get under the luxury tax threshold and stay there. But while Swisher, who was a decent power hitter and great clubhouse presence in New York, seems like a good option for Boston on paper, there are plenty of reasons why Swisher wouldn’t fit in with the Red Sox. The biggest drawback is that Swisher, while a fun-loving guy, didn’t take kindly to the criticism heaped on him during the playoffs last year. If he were to pull a Johnny Damon and go from New York to Boston, he’d have plenty more of that to deal with. His requesting a multiyear deal at his age (32 on Sunday) could also be a drawback for the Sox, who want to be ...