Yardbarker: Mike Sweeney

The Breakdown: Contract Riders...

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:51:44 -0500

Now we all know the story of the so called rock 'n' rolla whom has demanded only brown M & M's. And of course that's true. But didja know that ballplayers have their own wacky demands? IT'S TRUE!

Because I typed it in all caps. So shall we look at the facts? Yes. Let's look at the facts.

Catchers
Br... ...

Taking a look at the 2009 Free Agent Market..

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:34:49 -0500

Here is the complete list from MLBTRADERUMORS.COM :

Catchers
Brad Ausmus (40)
Paul Bako (37)
Rod Barajas (33) - $2.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Josh Bard (31)
Michael Barrett (32)
Henry Blanco (37) - $3MM mutual option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Johnny Estrada (33)
Toby Hall (33) - $2.25MM club option for '09 with a $0.15MM buyout
Jason LaRue (35)
Paul Lo Duca (37)
Miguel Olivo (30) - $2.7MM mutual option for '09 with a $0.1MM buyout
Ivan Rodriguez (37)
David Ross (32)
Javier Valentin (33)
Jason Varitek (37)
Gregg Zaun (38)
First basemen
Rich Aurilia (37)
Hank Blalock (28) - $6.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Sean Casey (34)
Tony Clark (37)
Carlos Delgado (37) - $12MM club option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jason Giambi (38) - $22MM club option for '09 with a $5MM buyout
Eric Hinske (31)
Doug Mientkiewicz (35)
Kevin Millar (37)
Richie Sexson (34)
Mark Teixeira (29)
Daryle Ward (34)
Second basemen
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Jamey Carroll (35) - $2.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.15MM buyout
Craig Counsell (38)
Ray Durham (37)
Damion Easley (39)
David Eckstein (34)
Mark Ellis (32)
Mark Grudzielanek (39)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Orlando Hudson (31)
Tadahito Iguchi (34)
Jeff Kent (41)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Mark Loretta (37)
Nick Punto (31)
Shortstops
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Orlando Cabrera (34)
Alex Cintron (30)
Alex Cora (33)
Craig Counsell (38)
David Eckstein (34)
Adam Everett (32)
Rafael Furcal (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Cesar Izturis (29)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Edgar Renteria (33)
Juan Uribe (30)
Ramon Vazquez (32)
Omar Vizquel (42) - $5.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Third basemen
Rich Aurilia (37)
Casey Blake (35)
Hank Blalock (28) - $6.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Aaron Boone (36)
Russell Branyan (33)
Craig Counsell (38)
Joe Crede (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Mark Loretta (37)
Fernando Tatis (34)
Ramon Vazquez (32)
Left fielders
Moises Alou (42)
Garret Anderson (37) - $14MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Milton Bradley (31)
Emil Brown (34)
Pat Burrell (32)
Carl Crawford (27) - $8.25MM club option for '09 with a $2.5MM buyout
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Luis Gonzalez (41)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Raul Ibanez (37)
Gabe Kapler (33)
Kevin Mench (31)
Jason Michaels (33) - $2.6MM club option for '09
Craig Monroe (32)
Greg Norton (36)
Jay Payton (36)
Wily Mo Pena (27) - $5MM club option or $2MM player option for '09
Manny Ramirez (37)
Juan Rivera (30)
Fernando Tatis (34)
Center fielders
Rocco Baldelli (27)
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Mike Cameron (36) - $10MM club option for '09 with a $750K buyout
Jim Edmonds (39)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Gabe Kapler (33)
Mark Kotsay (33)
Corey Patterson (29)
Scott Podsednik (33)
Right fielders
Bobby Abreu (35)
Casey Blake (35)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Brian Giles (38) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Ken Griffey Jr. (39) - $16.5MM club option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Gabe Kapler (33)
Jason Michaels (33) - $2.6MM club option for '09
Fernando Tatis (34)
Brad Wilkerson (32)
DHs
Milton Bradley (31)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Jason Giambi (38) - $22MM club option for '09 with $5MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Raul Ibanez (37)
Manny Ramirez (37)
Juan Rivera (30)
Mike Sweeney (35)
Frank Thomas (41)
Jose Vidro (34)
Starting pitchers
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) - can opt out after '08 season
Paul Byrd (38)
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33)
Bartolo Colon (36)
Ryan Dempster (32)
Shawn Estes (36)
Josh Fogg (32)
Freddy Garcia (33)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Braden Looper (34)
Rodrigo Lopez (33) - club option for '09
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Sergio Mitre (28)
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) - $11MM club option for '09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
Carl Pavano (33) - $13MM club option for '09 with a $1.95MM buyout
Brad Penny (31) - $8.75MM club option for '09 with a $2MM buyout
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Sidney Ponson (32)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
Glendon Rusch (34)
C.C. Sabathia (28)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42)
Tim Wakefield (42) - perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Randy Wolf (32)
Closers
Brian Fuentes (33)
Eric Gagne (33)
Eddie Guardado (38)
Trevor Hoffman (41)
Jason Isringhausen (36)
Brandon Lyon (29)
Francisco Rodriguez (27)
Salomon Torres (37) - $3.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Kerry Wood (32)
Middle relievers
Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Luis Ayala (31)
Joe Beimel (32)
Joe Borowski (38)
Doug Brocail (42)
Shawn Chacon (31)
Juan Cruz (30)
Alan Embree (39) - $3MM club option for '09
Scott Eyre (37)
Kyle Farnsworth (33)
Casey Fossum (31)
Keith Foulke (35)
Tom Gordon (41) - $4.5MM club option for '09 with a $1MM buyout
LaTroy Hawkins (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Matt Herges (39)
Bob Howry (35)
Jon Lieber (39)
Jason Johnson (35)
Damaso Marte (34) - $6MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Trever Miller (36) - $2MM club option for '09 with a $0.4MM buyout
Guillermo Mota (35)
Will Ohman (31)
Darren Oliver (38)
Chan Ho Park (36)
Horacio Ramirez (29)
Al Reyes (38)
Dennys Reyes (32)
Arthur Rhodes (39)
Juan Rincon (30)
Glendon Rusch (34)
Rudy Seanez (40)
Brian Shouse (40)
Russ Springer (40)
Mike Timlin (43)
Ron Villone (39)
David Weathers (39)
Kip Wells (32)
Matt Wise (33)
Jamey Wright (34)

Thanks to Tim Dierkes for Compiling this list...

Sweeney wants to help.....

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:38:19 -0500

The A's released Mike Sweeney, they had given him the option to be placed on the 60-day DL but the veteran's integrity and desire to play wouldn't allow him to accept the offer. Sweeney is facing knee surgery and/or retirement at the end of the season but believes his bat as a DH or pinch hitter can help a contender make the playoffs.

The 36 y/o right hander was batting .286 and is a lifetime .299 hitter. As with all the players the A's pick-up he has a solid OBP, lifetime .368 and this year .336. While it would be nice to have a solid bat like Sweeney's it's also important to block him from going to the other contenders......
Mike Sweeney said he hopes to sign with another club today after he clears waivers. The designated hitter, let go Tuesday, said his agents are hopeful that there will be interest, though there are just two weeks left in the season. source San Franscico Chronicle

Sweeney wants to help.....

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 02:12:56 -0500

A's go on the road with a needed change of luck

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:05:20 -0500

If the Oakland Athletics are to salvage anything from this season, they are going to have to start producing runs and get consistent pitching. Winning is the main goal that the team has, but a positive finish to a very topsy-turvy season would go a long ways into solidifying a fighting chance to make waves next season...

Athletics welcome back Swisher

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:40:25 -0500

Alright, don't lie. You have to admit that trading Nick Swisher bummed you almost as much as losing Eric Byrnes a couple of years ago. The two are starting in new locations, but it's Swisher that makes his Oakland debut today...as a White Sox player. No, the A's haven't found a way to get the fan-favorite Swisher back in green and gold, but the White Sox come into town for the 7:05pm PST start of their three game series and hopefully, the start of some winning for the Athletics....

Athletics lose again - need to find answers soon

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:59:33 -0500

Something has gotta' give, right? The A's can't remain as icy cold as they have since the end of the All Star break could they? When they've gotten stellar performances from their pitching, they've still managed to be outscored by the opposing team. When they've gotten some hitting, the opposition seems to have outpitched the A's pitchers. On a day when the Oakland Athletics ace, Justin Duchscherer, was pitching, you'd expect the latter wouldn't be the case in a loss, but on Thursday night it was....

Oakland A's struggle with more of the same - lose to Royals again

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:37:43 -0500

When are the Oakland A's going to field a team that can hit? It seems like they'll never have a team that can consistently score four or more runs in a game. When the Kansas City Royals are outplaying you, it's time to do a little self reflection. Rather than reflect, recently the A's have been deflecting trade rumors. Hopefully, after the trade deadline, some of the players who have tightened up will be more comfortable and able to break out of this obnoxious and demoralizing hitting slump that has led them to only 2 wins over the past 11 games...

Athletics go down in Oakland: homeruns by Royals beat the A's

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:45:09 -0500

Once again a former Athletic did damage to a struggling A's team that can't seem to get on track since the All Star break ended. The A's who have only won twice since the break, got the type of pitching that they desired over the weekend but Zack Greinke (8-7) tallied up 11 strike outs in 7 1/3 innings allowing only 1 walk and 2 earned runs to lead the Royals past the A's 4-2...

Did Billy Beane and the Athletics throw in the towel too early?

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:21:45 -0500

We've had 20 days to digest the beginning of the sell-off in Oakland, and in that time the A's have gone from seven games over .500 and six games out of first, second in the A.L. West, to two games over .500, 11 games back and in third...

Frank Thomas Signs With Oakland: FANTASY IMPACT

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:50:42 -0500

Frank Thomas has signed on with the Oakland A's. We explain what this means for the slugger and the players around him in the A's lineup.

Vet makes A's squad

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:08:57 -0500

With all the confusion over Boston and Oakland and the Japan trip, a huge story has been missed. Long time Royals' star and non-roster invitee to the A's camp, Mike Sweeney, made the big club's roster. Sweeney has hit .308 so far in the spring, with a OBP of of .400 and a SLG% of .462.

Rangers Notebook: The Kevin Mench Chronicles

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:38:27 -0500

Why the Texas Rangers would be wise to steer clear of free agent outfielder Kevin Mench; the potential reemergence of right-hander Kevin Millwood; Texas makes their pitch to MLB for the 2015 All-Star Game; John Rocker goes berzerk, plus much more.

Sweeney gets chance for .300

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:35:51 -0500

Five time ALL Star and career .299 hitter Mike Sweeney is out of Kansas City. The 17 year pro, all years spent within the Royals' organization, inked a minor league deal with an invite to the Oakland A's big league camp. The deal is for 1 year and all incentive based, assuming he makes the team. Sweeney says he is as healthy as ever and is ready to make the Major League club. As for the A's this could turn out to be a great move. The DH/1B possibilities see lefties Jack Cust and Daric Barton, one of the A's top prospects. The right handed power that a healthy Sweeney can provide could pose well for the young A's who lost switch hitter Nick Swisher to the White Sox.

Sunday Evening Rangers Notes

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:21:22 -0500

Flu-induced ramblings on the latest happenings surrounding the Texas Rangers.