Mike Sweeney Hopes To Play In 2010
Designated hitter Mike Sweeney hopes to play again in 2010, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. He'll have to postpone microfracture knee surgery to do so. The 36 year-old is hitting .277/.335/.441 in 236 plate appearances, his best power display since '05. He's on a $500K minor league deal signed in January.
Sweeney told Baker he decided to play next year after receiving support from his wife. His two choices are the Mariners and the Angels.
Mariners Sign Mike Sweeney
According to Larry Stone of the Seattle Times, the Mariners signed Mike Sweeney to a minor league contract. Sweeney, 35, hit .286/.331/.397 in 136 plate appearances for the A’s in ’08 while missing time with knee problems. No harm in giving him a look.
Odds and Ends: Aurilia, Sweeney, Nady
Still more Tuesday links…
- The Giants and Rich Aurilia maintain mutual interest, though the Giants want to address the offense first.
- Mike Sweeney hopes to play this year, says MLB.com. Said Sweeney, "I want baseball to shut the door on me while I’m kicking and screaming." The Royals have not expressed interest.
- Much is being made of Mark Teixeira and his wife choosing the Yankees on December 12th.
- According to ESPN Radio’s Andrew Marchand, the Mets have a face-to-face meeting scheduled with Scott Boras to discuss Oliver Perez and Derek Lowe (hat tip to MetsBlog).
- John Fay guesses the Reds "have at least explored trading for Xavier Nady."
- Paul DePodesta on the Padres’ recent non-roster signings.
- Aging corner-type veterans aren’t doing well, according to Keith Law, Dave Cameron, and Tom Verducci.
Week in Review: 9/7 – 9/13
Just a few weeks left in the regular season, but plenty of news here on MLBTR still. Let’s look back at the past week:
- The Mets received terrible news when they learned that their All-Star closer, Billy Wagner, will need Tommy John surgery and miss all of 2009. Wagner does not expect to return to the Mets, and apparently the Mets have already told him his 2010 option will not be exercised. The Mets seem likely to be in the Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes mix. On that note, Fuentes will probably not return to Colorado next season.
- I’m taking this one with a grain of salt, but it sure makes for a headline: Mark McGwire would consider playing again? Big Mac says he can still hit if someone wants him. However, it seems to me there’s another 40-something former slugger with steroid allegations who says the same thing, and no one’s biting on that front…
- Adam Dunn hasn’t heard anything about a possible extension from the Diamondbacks, but he’s not worried about it. He doesn’t sound too pleased with former teammate Bronson Arroyo these days, however…
- Speaking of Dunn, the Reds officially acquired Micah Owings as part of their trade of him this week.
- Tim updated the Offseason Outlook series, with installments for the Nationals, Royals, and Pirates. He also took a look at some of the potential big-name free agents following the 2009 season.
- The Elias Rankings for American League and National League relievers are out.
- Two minor moves: The A’s released designated hitter Mike Sweeney, and the Brewers claimed pitcher Todd Coffey.
Odds and Ends: Ellis, Patterson, Sweeney
Rounding up today’s links…
- Willie Bloomquist may have played his last game with the Mariners.
- The Rays feel they can be consistent contenders with a new stadium, as they could raise their payroll to the $80MM range.
- Former Dodgers GM Fred Claire takes a look at the free agent market.
- Athletics Nation notes the price on second baseman Mark Ellis has dropped.
- MLB.com’s Mark Bowman explains the Braves’ working agreement with the Hanshin Tigers. The Tigers don’t have any of the big name free agents, but Frank Wren could still consider adding Koji Uehara or Kenshin Kawakami to his rotation.
- The Padres added pitcher Scott Patterson, formerly of the Yankees. Paul DePodesta weighs in on Patterson and Charlie Haeger.
- Mike Sweeney hopes to sign with another club for the final few weeks of the season.
- Andrew Baggarly would be surprised to see the Giants trade Randy Winn this winter.
- Mike Hindman on Michael Young‘s huge contract extension, which kicks in next year. Click here to see the reaction from MLBTR readers at the time of the signing.
A’s Release Mike Sweeney
According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s released DH/good guy Mike Sweeney today. He signed a $500K deal in February, and played pretty well in April. However, the A’s signed Frank Thomas and Sweeney went down for eventual knee surgery in May. He tried to come back last week, but probably needs to go under the knife again.
Odds and Ends: Kazmir, Thomas, Sweeney
We’ll kick it off with a few links today and add more bullets periodically.
- Cole Hamels feels that he handled his contract renewal last year immaturely.
- Over at The Hardball Times, Geoff Young looks at the best compensation picks of the 20th century.
- Geoff Blum‘s ’09 option vests with one more plate appearance.
- Bronson Arroyo has a plan to make the Reds competitive.
- Matthew Cerrone explains Carlos Delgado‘s ’09 option.
- Jeff Passan on the Cardinals’ brilliant signing of Ryan Ludwick.
- Baseball Prospectus profiles #26-50 on their list of players to build a team around.
- Twins reliever Brian Bass accepted a Triple A assignment, so he won’t become a free agent.
- MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo takes a preliminary look at the ’09 draft order.
- Jamey Newberg wonders if the Rangers could pry Scott Kazmir loose this winter. It’s hard to see the Rays trading him.
- Susan Slusser expects the A’s to add an impact bat this winter, but free agent DHs Frank Thomas and Mike Sweeney will probably be let go. In a related note, ESPN’s Buster Olney says the A’s had a chance earlier this year to acquire Jason Bay for a package including pitching prospect Vin Mazzaro.
Frank Thomas Wants To Return To A’s
According to MLB.com’s Mychael Urban, A’s DH Frank Thomas would like to return to the team for the ’09 season. Thomas likes the team’s direction and wants to play until he’s 41 or 42 (he’s turned 40 in May). He won’t be looking for big money. Thomas believes Mike Sweeney would also like to return in ’09.
Thomas had a huge month of May after the Blue Jays let him go, but then missed all of June and July with a quad injury. He hasn’t hit at all this month. I imagine the A’s would be willing to bring him back for a million bucks or so.
Odds and Ends: Crisp, King, Sweeney
Here’s today’s linkage.
- Bobby Kielty‘s hand injury drastically reduces the chance of a Coco Crisp trade within the next month.
- Who needs a lefty reliever? The Nationals’ Ray King would like to be traded rather than head to Triple A.
- Mike Sweeney was excited about signing with the Twins last winter, but the Craig Monroe trade ended that possibility. Susan Slusser doesn’t expect the A’s to keep both Frank Thomas and Sweeney for very long.
- Joe Sports Fan ranks the seven best long-term contracts. Any additions? How about Dan Haren at four years and $12.65MM?
Odds and Ends: Dan Johnson, Baldelli, Soria
Let’s round up some linkage.
- Last Thursday I appeared on WVOX 1460 out of New York with Russell Mafes. You can download the file here (it’s about 12 mb and 16 minutes long).
- Jim Hendry is very candid about the Cubs’ desire to add a right-handed hitting outfielder who can handle center.
- Mike Sweeney‘s success and good health could mean Dan Johnson is on his way out of Oakland.
- Jim Salisbury says the Phillies might have taken Rocco Baldelli 15th in the 2000 draft instead of Chase Utley, if they’d had the chance. Would the Mets or Dodgers have taken Utley, then?
- Rany Jazayerli takes an in-depth look at Joakim Soria. Should the Royals give him a shot in the rotation later this year?
- On my fantasy baseball blog RotoAuthority I talk about the dropoff after the first five catchers.