Mike Sweeney?

by kaweahkaweah on Jan 24, 2005 8:27 AM PST

Has anyone heard anything about the A's interest in Mike Sweeney? ESPN's insider lists the A's as one of several teams (indluding the Angels) interested in Sweeney. Here's what the article says about Sweeney in KC:

"Jan. 24 - After the Royals surpassed the .500 mark in 2003 - guaranteeing Mike Sweeney could not opt out for the final three years of his $55 million, five-year deal - Sweeney was content to stay because he perceived a bright future in Kansas City. Now he is ambivalent, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Sweeney contends owner David Glass promised that the payroll would increase incrementally until it wound up in the $60 million range. But after the Royals spent $44.7 million last year (losing 104 games), they are on target to spend only $42 million this year.

"It looks like the plan isn't what I thought it would be," Sweeney told the newspaper. "It is a bit frustrating. ... I don't feel like Mr. Glass lied to me. He's a fine man. I just feel like I've been misled a little bit."

Glass didn't recall telling Sweeney about a substantial payroll increase. "I think Mike's just misled or doesn't understand," he said. "I don't think the size of the payroll determines how good your team is. ... The quality of the players matters most. We're putting a team together with a lot of young talent. I hope Michael wants to be a part of that."

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Ok

He would be a wonderful addition.....

If we only had an extra 11 million

by these4thingsiknowaretru on Jan 24, 2005 8:30 AM PST reply actions

Yeah

The article doesn't explain anything else, such as money, or what would happen to Dan Johnson.

by kaweahkaweah on Jan 24, 2005 8:32 AM PST up reply actions

k

Billy aluded to Dan Johnson going back to Sacro.

We lost Koonce that way. If Billy doesnt see us using someone like Koonce, with Barton coming up and in AAA, trade him

by these4thingsiknowaretru on Jan 24, 2005 8:34 AM PST up reply actions

Logjam at 1st Base

Hatty's numbers last year and BB's reference to DJ and Sacto do not bode well for DJ. BB also mentioned that Swish could play 1st, and that Barton would be moved to 1st base. DJ's only chance for significant PT this year is if Hatty gets hurt. And it sounds like the future may belong to Barton. DJ is the odd man out.

Sweeney is a nice player, but we don't have room for him in the budget or the line-up.

by silas on Jan 24, 2005 9:56 AM PST up reply actions

Logjam

Maybe within the next year or two DJ and Barton with be the new left/left 1B/DH combo like Hatte/Durazo.

by easyraider on Jan 24, 2005 10:24 AM PST up reply actions

Unfortunately

This would have been a great pick up a couple of years ago. It just seems that Sweeney has declined so much in these past few years because of chronic back problems that he's not a good bet to rebound.

I was a huge Sweeney fan a couple of years back, and was actually happy to see him play for the Royals if not the A's. They get their stars sucked out like we do ours (except they trade them - Dye, Damon, Beltran, et al).

But it's just too late in his career, and he's to far declined. My guess for him this year: .270/.370/.480 in fewer than 100 games.

by salb918 on Jan 24, 2005 8:35 AM PST reply actions

Thanks, though

for a baseball thread.

The triple of Jeremy Brown's imagination was, in reality, a home run.

by ArakSOT on Jan 24, 2005 8:45 AM PST reply actions

Yeah Seriously

I'm tired of reading about how Blez sold out or other such nonsense.

by salb918 on Jan 24, 2005 9:05 AM PST reply actions

How are you tired of it?

You are the one who opened the thread and read it. If you were tired of it why open it and continue to read every update?

by these4thingsiknowaretru on Jan 24, 2005 9:07 AM PST up reply actions

Stop

Everyone gets your point youve expressed your opinion if you dont mind i think most of us would like to get back to what really makes this site what it is BASEBALL.

by WolfPack44 on Jan 24, 2005 9:43 AM PST up reply actions

Thank You

Thank you for another non-baseball related post you hypocrite

by these4thingsiknowaretru on Jan 24, 2005 9:46 AM PST up reply actions

Tired of you

The only we he can possibly tell you to stop littering every diary you can with your BS to do that is to have a non baseball related post, you smartass.

Peace up, A-Town Down (A town being Albany California, not Atlanta)

by ohad on Jan 24, 2005 9:54 AM PST up reply actions

Well then

If you are tired of me whydo you write and respond to me?

by these4thingsiknowaretru on Jan 24, 2005 9:58 AM PST up reply actions

Wow

How did you cut and pase ESPN insider? I though you couldn't do that.

I don't know about Sweeney, unless Beane dome some kind of jedi mind trick to have the Royals eat up some of the contract I don't Sweeney coming over here, we're almost tapped out.

As long as Sweeney doesn't end up with the Yanks, Sawx, and anybody in the AL west, then I won't mind much.

"I love Scotch, Scotchy, Scotch, Scotch, here goes down, down into my belly, mm, mm, mm..." - Anchorman

by secret ASian man on Jan 24, 2005 9:47 AM PST reply actions

You can

You can cut and paste ESPN inside if you use a browser like Opera or Firefox, but not IE

by these4thingsiknowaretru on Jan 24, 2005 9:48 AM PST up reply actions

Yup :-)

That's why I can cut and paste this: I'm using Firefox. I couldn't cut and paste the Neyer article on the A's a few weeks ago becuase I used Internet Explorer.

by kaweahkaweah on Jan 24, 2005 10:16 AM PST up reply actions

Sweeney can happen financially

Not that I think it will happen but finanically it is very easy.
1.Payroll is at 58.5 we have (2.5 left)

we trade Byrnes and Hatteberg along with a prospect to KC for Sweeney(4.5 million)
We get KC to eat 3million of his salary.
Owners agree to 62 versus 61 million contract.

Again I think it is a huge long shot but financially not that hard to imagine.

OF course this ruins some flexibilty. but Durazo is gone next year to help out.

by novaoakland on Jan 24, 2005 10:20 AM PST reply actions

What about 2006

Is 2005 the last year of his contract?

What about 2006 the A's would have to pay 11 million for that too.

Plsu Hatte and Byrnes are I hink in the last years of their contract. KC would want younger players not ones that will give them only a year plus not match the numbers of Sweeney

by these4thingsiknowaretru on Jan 24, 2005 10:24 AM PST up reply actions

Byrnes

Is in arbitration.

Peace up, A-Town Down (A town being Albany California, not Atlanta)

by ohad on Jan 24, 2005 11:23 AM PST up reply actions

So

A player goes through 2 years of arbi

one 2 years before his contract ends, and another the yearbefore his contract ends

by these4thingsiknowaretru on Jan 24, 2005 11:25 AM PST up reply actions

This is his first year of Arby.

Peace up, A-Town Down (A town being Albany California, not Atlanta)

by ohad on Jan 24, 2005 11:29 AM PST up reply actions

I like this idea

Of getting him. Now THERE is a legit right handed bat. Second half numbers were great. He is a great hitter, he is righty, he is a prototypical beane player with the OBP. Plus hes got the average, sluggin, OPS whatever you want. He is a great hitter. And we can make it work. I would like to see this done, that would be great. Now just imagine him hitting fourth in between the two lefties. Please God!

Peace up, A-Town Down (A town being Albany California, not Atlanta)

by ohad on Jan 24, 2005 11:26 AM PST up reply actions

You are Assuming

that KC picks up a large portion of his contract, I hope. Otherwise, if we have to get rid of Byrnes and Hatty, I'd sign Ordonez for about the same money. Either of the two would fit nicely in the #4 spot, and would catapult us to 95 wins.

by silas on Jan 24, 2005 1:25 PM PST up reply actions

Sweeney=Yuck

I can't imagine why the A's would have any interest in Sweeney. By all accounts he's a decent enough guy, but last year he hit 287/347/504 while our very own Scott Hatteberg hit 284/367/420. So Sweeney hit for more power, but he also played in just 106 games. Add to this the prohibitive cost ($11 million - YIKES!) and aquiring this guy just doesn't make sense on any level, even if we got some money or sent some salary back.

Jonathon

by JLeverenz on Jan 24, 2005 11:36 AM PST reply actions

KC

Would have to throw in like 6 million, because if Sweeney gets traded he gets an extra 4.5 million.

Peace up, A-Town Down (A town being Albany California, not Atlanta)

by ohad on Jan 24, 2005 12:05 PM PST reply actions

Where you get that?

Never seen that anywhere.

by novaoakland on Jan 24, 2005 12:34 PM PST up reply actions

12.5 million

According to Dugout Dollars, Sweeney's salary goes up to $12.5 million if he's traded.

by kent @ Athletics Nation on Jan 24, 2005 1:24 PM PST up reply actions

re: these4thingsiknowaretru

Many people seem annoyed at the recent posts by "these4thingsiknowaretru," but keep playing into his hand by making angry or outraged retorts. It reminds me of the whole premise of asinine radio stations like KSFO, where you scream at the rabblerousers while increasing the station's ratings.

If everyone simply ignored each and every one of these4thingsiknowaretru's posts or diaries, wouldn't it be more effective? Just a suggestion.

Nico

by Nico on Jan 24, 2005 7:23 PM PST reply actions

He got banned.....

we don't have to worry about him anymore.

My best friend- "I can't wait to go to A's games again! then i can be like...look at Crosby's buns... i mean... look at crosby run!"

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jan 24, 2005 7:25 PM PST up reply actions

Oops...

I hadn't yet seen Ohad's diary, which makes exactly my point (above). Sorry.

Nico

by Nico on Jan 24, 2005 7:25 PM PST reply actions

Banned? All the better--

Didn't have the right spirit.

Nico

by Nico on Jan 24, 2005 7:26 PM PST reply actions

Sweeney

I seriously doubt that Beane has any real interest in acquiring Sweeney. More likely, ESPN mentioned Oakland just because Beane is among the GMs inquiring, and Beane is inquiring just because he likes to get involved in any trade talks. If I had to guess, I'd say he's sounding out the market for 1B's to find out who is interested and what they're offering, so that he'll know where he can go to offer up Dan Johnson or Scott Hatteberg.

by iglew on Jan 24, 2005 7:27 PM PST reply actions