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?

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

I hate the Yankees and their farm system sucks.

Again, why do we have to trade him? You would rather see Harvey out there every day?

People just named a number of good prospects in their farm system. I don't give a damn who we trade with. If the Cardinals have good prospects then take them. If the Yankees have good prospects then take them too. It's madness not to take the best value offered.

It's only silly to trade him if you believe that he will still be helping us in ~4 years, when he's 35 or 36, with the back trouble that has been plaguing him lately, and if he decides to give us the home team discount again like he did last time and signs another deal.

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Yeah, you are correct on the contract restructure. I forgot that about MLB......

I'd have no problems trading Sweeney straight up to the Yanks for Kevin Thompson. The kids a player. A look at your 2006 Royals OF

Thompson in LF (plus, he is a legit leadoff hitter) 25 yrs old
David DeJesus in CF (Now, he can bat 2nd) 25 yrs old
Cory Aldrige (Can bat 3-5, but has to get the K's down) 25 yrs old

I guess I value Sweeney a lot more then some of you do. Sure, it sucks that he had a couple injuries, but when healthy he is one of the best hitters in the game. Trading him straight up for a minor leaguer in his mid 20's doesn't seem like a very good deal to me, I would at least want another quality pitching prospect. Even then, the thought of Harvey playing everyday at 1st or DH (when Huber comes up) is enough to make me sick. Let's keep Sweeney and pair him with Huber, that could be a great combination.

[Demonpenz]

11 million dollars for a guy who plays half the time and when he plays plays half the game is not much of a ****ing discount

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by SCTrojan

I don't think we have to trade him right now. But I think he is signed through just next season or the following. It is a similar situation to Beltran. Sweeney will more than likely go at the end of his contract. If you can get some quality young players when he leaves, then it makes sense to do it. We should at least consider it.

Of course we should consider it, we should consider any trade scenario. However, people on here are acting like we HAVE to trade Sweeney, when there isn't much of a need to right now. He has played great this year and he could form a great combo at 1B/DH with Huber. Trading him away for a minor leaguer right now would be a dumb move, unless we received a few top prospects.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

I guess I value Sweeney a lot more then some of you do. Sure, it sucks that he had a couple injuries, but when healthy he is one of the best hitters in the game. Trading him straight up for a minor leaguer in his mid 20's doesn't seem like a very good deal to me, I would at least want another quality pitching prospect. Even then, the thought of Harvey playing everyday at 1st or DH (when Huber comes up) is enough to make me sick. Let's keep Sweeney and pair him with Huber, that could be a great combination.

I just gotta ask, but why do you want to keep Sweeney around, when this team won't be ready to make a charge until 2007?

At that point, he'll have 1 yr left on the contract, and absolutley NO trade value for the most part. Mike, with his health issues, has about 2 more really productive seasons in his tank. He's not part of the future, and the only stick in our MLB club that has trade value. Not to mention, we've got a great deal of talent in the minors at 1b (Huber and Pressley in AA, and Kaaihue in A ball is just ripping it up).

Watching Harvey play every day at 1b, while Huber and Pressley get ready, doesn't bother me at all. I mean, really, what are playing for this year anyway?

[SCTrojan]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Of course we should consider it, we should consider any trade scenario. However, people on here are acting like we HAVE to trade Sweeney, when there isn't much of a need to right now. He has played great this year and he could form a great combo at 1B/DH with Huber. Trading him away for a minor leaguer right now would be a dumb move, unless we received a few top prospects.

I'm a big Sweeney fan, so I'm not advocating an immediate trade. He's killing the ball right now.

But taking into consideration the long-term good of the club, there's a point at which he is no longer a valuable trade commodity. If we are willing to forego that because he will be here long-term, then so be it. But if it looks like he will not be here past his current contract, then he falls in with every other star we've traded away. Get something of worth before he leaves and we get nothing.

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

I just gotta ask, but why do you want to keep Sweeney around, when this team won't be ready to make a charge until 2007?

At that point, he'll have 1 yr left on the contract, and absolutley NO trade value for the most part. Mike, with his health issues, has about 2 more really productive seasons in his tank. He's not part of the future, and the only stick in our MLB club that has trade value. Not to mention, we've got a great deal of talent in the minors at 1b (Huber and Pressley in AA, and Kaaihue in A ball is just ripping it up).

Watching Harvey play every day at 1b, while Huber and Pressley get ready, doesn't bother me at all. I mean, really, what are playing for this year anyway?

In defense, I have to ask you how do you know that we have no shot at making a charge until 2007? I know it sounds far-fetched, but this team really isn't that far off. We have the young pitchers, now we just need some offense, which is much easier to find. We have a young nucleus of positional players (Dejesus, Teahen, Gotay, Buck, Huber and Butler on the way), why trade our best player and leader now? I think we could finish this season strong and make a charge next year, it's not like we are getting blown out every game.

I would much rather trade Berroa right now, I think he is worthless and he might get as much in return as Sweeney.

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by SCTrojan

I'm a big Sweeney fan, so I'm not advocating an immediate trade. He's killing the ball right now.

But taking into consideration the long-term good of the club, there's a point at which he is no longer a valuable trade commodity. If we are willing to forego that because he will be here long-term, then so be it. But if it looks like he will not be here past his current contract, then he falls in with every other star we've traded away. Get something of worth before he leaves and we get nothing.

Every single player leaves at some point, does that mean you trade every player away? I don't really get that philosophy, I think Sweeney would be useful over the next few years in shaping our young guys into players while also being one of the best hitters in the game.

[SCTrojan]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

I would much rather trade Berroa right now, I think he is worthless and he might get as much in return as Sweeney.

I'm with you there. Do the Angels need a shortstop?

[SCTrojan]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Every single player leaves at some point, does that mean you trade every player away? I don't really get that philosophy, I think Sweeney would be useful over the next few years in shaping our young guys into players while also being one of the best hitters in the game.

No. But there are some you know will bring good value on the trade market. The Royals cannot afford to let them go for free.

If we can keep him and he becomes a KC icon, then we have received good value for our investment. If he stays and he helps us in a pennat race in the next year or two, then we will have received good value for our investment.

But if he is leaving and we aren't competing, then we have to get something of value for him. At some point, we'll know whether we can keep him. That isn't today, but it may be coming soon.

[CoMoChief]

What the Angels want = Mike Sweeney

What the Royals want in return = 3 AA minor league prospects

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

In defense, I have to ask you how do you know that we have no shot at making a charge until 2007? I know it sounds far-fetched, but this team really isn't that far off. We have the young pitchers, now we just need some offense, which is much easier to find. We have a young nucleus of positional players (Dejesus, Teahen, Gotay, Buck, Huber and Butler on the way), why trade our best player and leader now? I think we could finish this season strong and make a charge next year, it's not like we are getting blown out every game.

I would much rather trade Berroa right now, I think he is worthless and he might get as much in return as Sweeney.

That's a fair question, and the reply is I don't know. I just know that Mike has a limited shelf life of what he will contribute over the next couple of years. I also know that it takes young players a couple of years to gell together. More than likely, we will have several new pieces to add to our puzzle in 2006 (Huber, maybe Pressley, Aldridge, spossibly Maeir or even Butler).

I think we could be a decent team in 2006, but I think we could be a very good team in 2007. Teahan, DeJesus and Buck will all be in their 3rd full season, our young pitchers should have worked out many of the kinks they are encountering now. The new acquistions in 2006 will have had a year to adjust. Most importantly, the new manager will have had some time to get used to the team and the young talent. Just a hunch, but I really think our year to make a charge is a couple years a way (2007) with all these young players.

[nomad]

Originally Posted by SCTrojan

I'm with you there. Do the Angels need a shortstop?

Can't help you there.. the Angels signed Orlando Cabrera to a 4 year deal this past winter. Way too much money, for too long when we had eckstein and a TON of talent at 2nd/ss in the minors.

You and Berroa kinda sound like me and Darren Erstad.

Love to trade him, even though he is considered a clubhouse leader and true gamer. I'd like to have a power guy at 1B or at least at DH (Sweeney).

What exactly are Sweeneys contract numbers??

Big I know, but for how long??

[SCTrojan]

Originally Posted by nomad

What exactly are Sweeneys contract numbers??

Big I know, but for how long??

Sweeney gets something like $11 million a year. He's signed through 2007.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by nomad

What exactly are Sweeneys contract numbers??

Big I know, but for how long??

He is in the 3rd year of a 5 year $55MM deal. You want some?

I'd be willing to bet that the Royals would eat a big portion of this year just to rid themselves of final 2 years of that contract. That said, I think his salary jumps from $11MM/YR to $12.5MM/YR if he's traded.....