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If Nick Swisher thought Yankee Stadium fans treated him harshly in October, what can he expect if he returns to The Bronx wearing “BOSTON’’ across his chest on Opening Day next April?
According to a person with knowledge of the situation the Red Sox have an interest in the switch-hitting right fielder who can also handle first base.
“He is on their radar,’’ the person said of the Yankees’ blood rivals who need a right fielder and first baseman and have vowed to spend money this offseason.
Of course, there is a wide gulf between being on a team’s radar and actually joining that club. A 32-year old (his birthday is Sunday) switch-hitter who can play a corner spot in the outfield and infield and has value, Swisher batted .272 with 24 homers and 93 RBIs (his most in his four seasons as a Yankee) last season.
An industry source estimated Swisher could land a four-year deal for $60 million, but expected fellow free agents B.J.Upton (28) and Michael Bourn (30 late next month) to get more because they are younger. And they are center fielders.
Of course, Swisher’s four postseasons in pinstripes were awful and there are some who don’t like his outsized personality. Yet, the Red Sox haven’t reached the postseason in the last three years so Swisher’s October struggles might not come into play.
Since Yankee sources said yesterday’s deal in which News Corp. purchased 49 percent of the YES network doesn’t impact their budget for players, Swisher won’t return because he is looking for more than one year, and, since the Yankees are locked into a $189 million payroll for the 2014 season, they are allergic to signing free agents for more than one year.
So the Red Sox interest isn’t to drive the price up on the Yankees, who are in the market for outfield help but have made pitching a priority. The Yankees are waiting on Andy Pettitte to tell them he is coming back.
Swisher batted .268 with 105 homers and 349 RBIs and posted a .850 OPS in four regular seasons with the Yankees. Those numbers can’t be ignored. However, neither can a .162 (21-for-130) average in 36 postseason games as a Yankee that produced four homers and seven RBIs. Swisher’s October woes aren’t just as a Yankee. In 46 career postseason games, he is batting .169 (26-for-154) with a .588 OPS.
A very popular player, Swisher was stung by comments he heard from fans at Yankee Stadium during Game 2 of the ALCS vs. the Tigers.
“A lot of people saying a lot of things I’ve never heard before,” Swisher said at the time. “Prime example — I missed that ball in the lights [in Game 1] and next thing you know I’m the reason that [Derek] Jeter got hurt. It’s kind of frustrating. They were saying [Jeter’s injury] was my fault.”
Swisher admitted being bothered by the reaction.
“It hurts,” he said. “Sometimes I’m a sensitive guy. Some of the things people say, they get under your skin a little bit. I’m one of those guys that you give me a hug and I’ll run through a brick wall for you. Right now it seems like there’s a lot of … I’m trying to find a way to word this the right way, it’s tough. It’s really tough.
“To go through a stretch like this where it’s kind of a negative attitude, a negative-type setting, that’s tough. That’s the last thing that I ever thought would be in this ballpark, that people would get on you that bad. You never want to be in that spot. It’s just tough.’’
But nowhere near as tough as if Swisher shows up for the Yankees’ home opener as a member of the Red Sox.
* The Yankees claimed RHP Mickey Storey off waivers from the Astros yesterday and added LHP Manny Banuelos, OF Ramon Flores, RHP Brett Marshall, RHP Jose Ramirez, LHP Francisco Rondon and LHP Nik Turley to their 40-man roster. … RHP Dave Herndon elected free agency in lieu of being outrighted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees’ 40-man roster stands at 39. … For the second straight day Cashman said there is nothing to report on contract talks with Mariano Rivera. The GM also said he believes Derek Jeter will be the Opening Day shortstop.
george.king@nypost.com