Sweeney Trade Rumors

Sweeney is disputing the reports that ran a few days ago in the Los Angeles Daily News that suggested that he wanted to be traded to the Angels.

"They came to me and asked me about the rumors," Sweeney said. "I said, 'Hey, look, they're a great team.' But if you see a quote from me that says I want to be traded, it's not true."

I can't imagine Mike Sweeney putting on another uniform. Can you? I know that he lives in California and it makes sense for him to play for the Angels if the Royals are insistent upon dumping Sweeney, but if it is possible for one player to represent a team, then Mike Sweeney represents Kansas City.

He's never hinted that he'll be content to stay with the Royals though if they aren't committed to improving and competing. Since becoming a fixture in the Royals line up, they've changed strategies multiple times and never seem to stick with one long enough to see if it'll work.

We're back in the youth movement mode, which is fine if you have the right youth and a manger who knows what he's doing and if you have a GM who fills in the holes with the right personnel when necessary. We definitely had the wrong manager. The jury is still out on the youth, although some players like Berroa and Gotay and even Teahen to a lesser degree, aren't exactly looking like they belong in the major leagues. And most of the buttons that Baird has pushed in recent years have been the wrong ones.

So we have a mess on our hands and Sweeney has expressed frustration at a ridiculously low (relatively speaking) payroll. Doesn't he have a point? And yet, he's denying the rumors that said he wants to be traded to the Angels. I'm pleased to hear him say that, but I can't help but wonder if he isn't about to enter his final month in a Royals uniform in spite of his wishes.