Ryan Sweeney's on the market...

by Suffering Buc on Dec 16, 2010 7:07 PM EST

Word has come out today that Billy Beane has acquired Josh Willingham in a trade. Willingham will now be Oakland's starting left fielder and, though he has injury concerns, will play pretty much every day. They have Coco Crisp coming off a solid year in center field, and they just traded for David DeJesus to play right field. They signed Hideki Matsui to be their designated hitter yesterday, and they have two excellent corner OF prospects who are close to the Majors in Michael Taylor and Chris Carter. Conor Jackson is going to make over 3M to be their fifth outfielder, as things stand now.

This brings me to the player of consequence here, Ryan Sweeney. He was worth 4 WAR just two years ago before having an injury-shortened disaster of a campaign in 2010. Still, he's just 25, has a 19.5 career UZR in right field, and is a good bet for a .330 wOBA.

Oakland has a huge surplus, and it's likely Sweeney will be the odd man out in the outfield (no pun).

The Pirates are set to give the majority of their RF time to Matt Diaz and Garrett Jones. Both of them are okay players who can contribute in a platoon, but Sweeney is a potential stud who's really stock-down at the moment.

I don't know what Beane wants for him, but there's no way Sweeney's not on the market.

I'd like to imagine Huntington's on the phone with him right now.

Thoughts?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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can we get him

for Andy Laroche?

by BurgherKing on Dec 16, 2010 7:12 PM EST reply actions

As always with potential player acquisitions...

…it depends on the cost.

If we want to bring another corner OF into the mix, the recently non-tendered Travis Buck is reasonably interesting.

by Vlad on Dec 16, 2010 7:14 PM EST reply actions

Also, a minor pedantic note:

I know that Chris Carter has spent some time in the OF, but he’s a 1B in spirit no matter where they end up using him in the field.

by Vlad on Dec 16, 2010 7:16 PM EST reply actions

beat me to it!

Was just about to post about Sweeneys possible availability. I was really excited to hear the rumors last year about Sweeney coming to Pittsburgh, and I would still be equally excited to acquire him plus I think it would cost alot less than last year. I still think Sweeney has a bright future ahead of him, and he would look good playing right field in Pittsburgh. A heck of alot better than Matt Diaz…

by FusilliJerry88 on Dec 16, 2010 8:01 PM EST reply actions

and why is that?

by white angus on Dec 16, 2010 10:33 PM EST up reply actions

Because they posted nearly identical number in OPS+ and in dWAR last season one of them is turning 33 and the other is turning 26.

Its an obvious age curve issue.

The price would naturally have to be right for Sweeney though.

http://bleedblackandgold.com/

by Say Hey Johnny Ray on Dec 17, 2010 9:29 AM EST up reply actions

everyone bitched at the numbers that milledge put up as a corner outfielder

yet ryan sweeney would be an okay addition? Diaz will be platooning with garrett jones. i could almost guarantee better numbers from those two than a full time sweeney. however, if we want a lefty hitting reserve outfielder, then im all for it… but we already have a sweeney here, his name is alex presley…. awwwwwwww

by white angus on Dec 17, 2010 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

Oakland's a pretty big pitcher's park.

And Sweeney’s a legit plus defender in a corner. Both of those help his value.

Presley could grow up to be a Sweeney-like player in a year or two, I agree, but he isn’t a lock to do so.

by Vlad on Dec 17, 2010 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

vlad, can you at least agree with me on one thing?? please? im beggin ya!!!

just say presley is our ryan sweeney, say it… cmon…

by white angus on Dec 17, 2010 11:47 PM EST up reply actions

I'm sorry, Dave.

I can’t do that.

by Vlad on Dec 18, 2010 8:22 PM EST up reply actions

Daisy, Dai....sy give me your....an....swer, ....do...

…

…
…Interesting side note (if you’re into this kind of thing), via Roger Ebert’s twitter: I mention the missing 17 minutes of “2001,” which I saw. Kubrick wanted them out. Film premiered before he was finished. http://j.mp/gEgHri

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Dec 19, 2010 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

Too late

What would we do with him now? It’s not like the As want any of our current bumper crop of ~102 OPS+ RFs. He’s a guy I’d love to pick up if we were still looking at the group we had in October. Now? I can’t fathom how he’d fit (unless someone wants to give us a non-RF for Bowker, Jones, and Doumit).

by JRoth95 on Dec 16, 2010 9:36 PM EST reply actions

It might take Meek. And I’d do that. Relievers aren’t that important. Sweeney was worth the same 0.8 WAR in an 82-game season with one home run than Meek was in a career year where he made tons of appearances.

by Suffering Buc on Dec 16, 2010 10:39 PM EST up reply actions

I know Sweeny is good, but to be honest I’d rather have a power-hitter OF.

by taiwania on Dec 16, 2010 9:50 PM EST reply actions

Same here, Son

How can a man who’s 6’4" and 225 lbs manage to only hit 13 total homers over the course of 5 seasons? Plus he doesn’t steal bases either.

Sweeney reminds me of a modern day Joe Orsulak. Meh.

by CUNNING STUNTS on Dec 17, 2010 3:02 AM EST up reply actions

sweeney would make a fine backup outfielder for somebody

by white angus on Dec 16, 2010 10:33 PM EST reply actions

No

I won’t settle for anyone but Lars Fuckin’ Anderson!

by maguro on Dec 16, 2010 10:57 PM EST reply actions

The Pirates aren’t going to trade for a corner…so unless Sweeney is a great CF (which doesn’t appear to be the case), where’s he gonna go?? Other than Indy.

BTW…he hits HR about half as often as Lastings Milledge…even in the minors…and they were born 6 weeks apart, so it’s not like age is an excuse.

I can do without him for now.

by Thunder on Dec 17, 2010 8:46 AM EST reply actions

If we were going to enter the trade market (which we’re deathly afraid to do), why wouldn’t you have gone after Mark Reynolds or Willingham? Reynolds has 3 years on his contract, and Willingham is probably worth draft pick compensation.

by Adam Reynolds on Dec 17, 2010 11:59 AM EST via mobile reply actions