NFT: Royals Sweeney trade value?

[nomad]

Lifetime Chiefs fan here, living in OC Cali I'm also a diehard Angels fan so I want to get a feel for what the Royals fans see as the trade value of 1B/DH Mike Sweeney and what the Royals might be looking for.

The reality of the teams situations are the Angels are hoping at going deep into the playoffs, where the Royals are looking more into the future, where Sweeney would likely be gone by then.

Consider the Angels minor league depth and having too many quality OF'ers on the big league roster, their recent lack of offense, the built in expectations here, Sweeneys local roots , one might think a trade would make some sense.

I know he's on a BIG contract and has been injury prone the past couple of years, but he is a quality hitter who would fit in at DH on this roster between Vlad and Garrett Anderson.

All things considered, do you Royals fans here think a package of a young pitching prospect like a Steven Shell or Joe Saunders together with an outfielder like Juan Rivera or Jeff DaVannon spark an interest?

[eazyb81]

A little off topic, but I found this on Royalboard and thought it was interesting. It is Sportsline's take on each managerial candidate for the Royals:

"Frank White: Pros: One of the classiest and most respected names in Royals history. Is paying his dues managing at Double-A Wichita. Offers instant integrity to franchise and one of the few names out there who might help at the box office. Cons: Royals job already has chewed up and spit out one-time Kansas City legend Hal McRae. Please, let's not go down the list besmirching K.C. masterpieces!

Larry Bowa: Pros: Knows the game. Is interested in the job. Doesn't tolerate sloppy fundamentals. Cons: Are you kidding? What kind of person would turn loose a raving lunatic on a bunch of unsuspecting, impressionable kids who haven't even fully learned the game yet?

Jim Fregosi: Pros: Brilliant baseball mind. Every team he has managed has gotten better. Cons: Might be too old-school and too volatile for a long-term construction job.

Jim Leyland: Pros: Wants to manage again after a self-imposed sabbatical from the dugout. Has experience with rebuilding projects (see: Pittsburgh, post-1990-1992 boon). Cons: Cut and ran from Colorado when the going got tough, and that soured some baseball people on him. At 60, does he have the energy to spend as much time instructing as managing?

Bob Brenly: Pros: Won a World Series in Arizona. Is good with the media and will put a good public face on organization. Cons: Mediocre tactician, but Brenly is patient and could be a good fit with Royals.

Larry Dierker: Pros: Knows pitching. The Royals have some good young arms like Zack Greinke, Denny Bautista and Runelvys Hernandez, and Dierker is very good at nurturing starting pitchers and building their confidence. Cons: Hasn't managed in more than three years.

Art Howe: Pros: Experienced and works very well with young prospects. Kansas City is a much better market for Howe's quiet personality than New York, where the Mets job turned disastrous. Cons: Isn't a forceful enough personality to re-energize Kansas City's declining fan base.

Grady Little: Pros: Won 93 and 95 games in his two seasons of managing Boston. The guy knows the game. Before getting his chance with the Red Sox, he managed more than 2,000 minor-league games. Cons: Lots of people think he's an idiot because he left Pedro Martinez on the hill in Game 7 of the 2003 AL Championship Series. But one incident should not mar a stellar lifetime record.

Jimy Williams: Pros: Excellent instructor and man of integrity. The Royals need a teacher for prospects such as Mark Teahen and Ruben Gotay. Cons: He does not have a history of getting the most out of his teams. Exhibit A: The sharp improvement in Houston last season after Williams was relieved of his duties.

Bud Black: Pros: Currently Los Angeles Angels pitching coach, Black is an up-and-comer who is excellent with pitchers, knows the game, is very bright and once pitched in Kansas City. Cons: Might not be ready to manage yet; because of high school daughters he wants to remain close to home in San Diego.

Whitey Herzog: Pros: He's Whitey Herzog! And if Jack McKeon can manage successfully at 74, why can't Herzog at 73? Cons: It would be very entertaining, but would this be the best way to conduct a youth movement?"


I have officially decided that my two favorite candidates are Jim Leyland and Larry Dierker. I think Leyland might be the best candidate, but I am scared off a bit with how he suddenly quit on the Rockies the last time he was a manager. However, if he was serious about coaching again, he would be a perfect fit, IMO. He also said in an interview yesterday that he would take the Royals job if it was offered to him, so take it for what it's worth.