Sweeney was, from about 1998 to 2005, the Royals' version of Edgar Martinez.   He'd hit .320 with lots of walks, a .400-ish OBP, forty doubles and 25 homers.  He's also an awesome human being by all accounts. 

He was the quintessential Barking Spider for many years -- a small-market, underrated roto commodity who gave Mikey Jay as much production as the hyped guys drafted far ahead of him.

................

Sweeney's last good year was when he was 31 -- and he's 35 now.  Could there be anything left for him?

The problem has really been his back. 

For three years in a row, Sweeney has hit for zero power, and that ain't good for a big 1B who's there to drive in runs.  He's hit 17 homers total, in a good fraction of three years, and you're talking about an extreme fly ball hitter here.  He's a flyball guy who had first warning track power, and who now has mid-outfield power.

Mike's RC/27 used to be 8.0 - 9.0 .... then it went down to a Swisher-ish 6.0 or so ... now it has been down to 4.0, 4.2.  His Power Index (PX) has gone from 120-130 to .... um .... 70, which is middle infielder status.

So we all know about the bad news.  Bad back, can't turn on or leverage the ball, so for a lumbering 1b, you're out of baseball.

.

=== On a Cold Dark Winter Night, Dept. ===

Want to know about the candle in the window, though?

In April of 2008, before Sweeney's back started bothering him again, Sweeney did this:

7 BB, 1 K

.309/.377/.456

But he was playing every day, pretty much, and apparently the back went out. 

Seven walks and one strikeout in the first month.  When's the last time you saw that?  To gain a little perspective, consider:  would your CF or 3B be capable of going April with 7 BB's and 1 strikeout?  Could even Ichiro rack up a 7:1 month if he decided that's what he wanted to do?

Sweeney has always been an unusually talented hitter.

What the April suggests to you, and especially the contact and strike zone control, is that Sweeney has not lost his ability to hit.  What he's lost, is the ability to walk comfortably.  Siiiiighhhhh.

As a platoon hitter vs LHP's, let's say?  Sweeney went the 2008 season, sixty PA's, without ever striking out against a lefty.  Taking into consideration Sweeney's MVP-candidate background, it's easy to imagine Sweeney effective in spots.

......................

The Mariners are bringing Sweeney in to see how his back feels.  Nothing to lose, doing that, right?  We roto geeks put absolutely zero into all of the "I took yoga this winter" stories that we hear winter after winter ... but Sweeney is a guy with credibility and there's no harm checking.

Keep an eye on Sweeney.  If he feels good, if he rings a couple of gappers around early, and then he's used in spots, he could fill a Gabe Kapler type role for Zduriencik.

Our prayers are with you Mikey,

Dr D