Nick Swisher rumors: Landing with the Seattle Mariners looks like a longshot

Free agent outfielder Nick Swisher will not be visiting Seattle as he tours around looking for his new home, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweeted on Tuesday.

the swisher tour does not currently include the #mariners. get feeling they want to do protect that No. 12 draft pick

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 18, 2012

After making a very public swing and a miss on Josh Hamilton, many believed the Mariners had turned their eyes and pocketbooks to Nick Swisher, considered one of the best remaining outfielders on the market.

But it appears the Mariners' struggles to land high-profile hitters continues as Swisher's avoidance of Seattle suggests he probably won't land with the team. Swisher has been one of MLB's more consistent players over his career, and has averaged close to a 4.0 WAR over the past three years with the New York Yankees.

Ryan Divish of the News Tribune also echoed Heymen's sentiments on Tuesday, suggesting that Swisher wasn't very interested in the Seattle Mariners early on.

Divish does refute Heymen's claim about the draft pick, however. If the Mariners signed Swisher to a contract they would have to sacrifice their first draft pick in the 2013 draft.

Heyman's tweet seems odd since Jack Z seemed to understand losing the 12th pick was a necessary effect in adding a hitter.

— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) December 19, 2012

With Swisher out of the picture, the last big outfielder on the board is Michael Bourn, who the Mariners have also been linked to since the winter meetings.