Article: Twins Continue To Add Outfield Depth

[Parker Hageman]

The Minnesota Twins released their list of non-roster invitees to spring camp. The list included several of the usual suspect and some of the more recent additions. Surprisingly, also included was 30-year-old outfielder Ryan Sweeney, who was last seen in the majors as a Chicago Cubs roster crunch causality heading into the 2015 regular season. So what could the Twins possibly want with him?Sweeney’s addition is a depth move for the organization, placing him alongside Darin Mastroianni and Joe Benson as candidates for a fourth outfielder role. A once lauded prospect, Sweeney was considered among Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects from 2005 through 2007 and was projected to be a source of power based on his 6-foot-4 frame. Even at the upper levels of the minor leagues that power never manifested but his ability to play all three outfield positions allowed him to maintain steady employment among a variety of teams.

 

READ: A Look At The Latest Signings

 

Injuries, however, cut into his playing time during what should have been his peak years. In 2012, while playing for Boston, Sweeney punched a wall at Fenway Park, required surgery to repair the injury and cost him 59 games. Meanwhile, in 2013, Sweeney found his niche once he was recalled to the Cubs in May. From May until the end of June, he hit .295/.342/.527 with four home runs in 121 plate appearances. However, Sweeney wound up cracking a rib in a collision with Safeco’s wall that took him out of action for six weeks. When he returned to the lineup, he hit just .225/.300/.338. Nevertheless, the Cubs re-signed Sweeney shortly after that to a two-year, $3.5 million contract, betting that he could rebound to his pre-injury production. In a part-time capacity in 2014 Sweeney never hit well enough (.251/.304/.338) to merit more exposure, and a hamstring injury in May sidelined him for an extended stretch.

 

"I don't know why I pulled my hamstring. I hadn't done it in seven or eight years,” told the Chicago Tribune while rehabbing the injury in Mesa at the team’s training facility. “But I was dealing with other stuff with my leg, so maybe I was overcompensating for it. Any time I've (injured) it, it has been on the base paths. So to do it while running after a fly was new to me."

 

When the Cubs had to make their final roster decision heading into 2015, they opted to go with an additional infielder in Jonathan Herrera rather than the veteran outfielder, and designated Sweeney for assignment, paying him $1.5 million in the process. While he never played for another team over the rest of the season, Sweeney’s representative said in an email that the seven-year veteran had other playing options for 2014 but choose instead to recover from the various injuries including the hamstring issue and also a case of plantar fasciitis that affected his performance over the last several years. Heading into his age-30 season, Sweeney was committed to coming into 2016 at one hundred percent.

 

READ: Should Mauer Be In The Outfield?

 

What does Sweeney’s signing suggest about the team’s confidence in their outfield? There appears to be a glaring lack of confidence in their center field options but not enough commitment to upgrade with a Rajai Davis-type (who was just signed by the Cleveland Indians). Outside of Bryon Buxton, the Twins have Danny Santana and have cited Eddie Rosario as a potential option. They have brought in Mastroianni and Benson. Sweeney certainly possesses a small level of intrigue as he is capable of playing above average defense with an outside chance of contributing with the stick. However, he will battle two known commodities in Mastroianni and Benson. With Eddie Rosario and Oswaldo Arcia ahead of him, Sweeney’s left-handed presence gives him little advantage in a cluttered outfield. That being said, Sweeney can provide depth at the position and can be a recall candidate playing in Rochester if anything goes sour in Minnesota.

 

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[diehardtwinsfan]

I like this signing.  Can he play a passable CF?

[Mike Sixel]

Not much room left in AAA for Buxton.......or ABW or Kepler with all these guys. 

 

edit:

 

I've always been on the "give the youth a chance" bandwagon. Hell, I may as well be one of the horses pulling it. If any of these three is in AA next year, to make room for the above players......well, I don't know what, but something bad will happen.

Edited December 17, 2015 by Mike Sixel

[clone52]

In what world is Joe Benson a "known commodity"?  Seems like he has more question marks than Sweeney.

[Parker Hageman]

 

In what world is Joe Benson a "known commodity"?  Seems like he has more question marks than Sweeney.

 

In the world where the Twins KNOW what they have in him.

[bluechipper]

 

Not much room left in AAA for Buxton.......or ABW or Kepler with all these guys. 

 

edit:

 

I've always been on the "give the youth a chance" bandwagon. Hell, I may as well be one of the horses pulling it. If any of these three is in AA next year, to make room for the above players......well, I don't know what, but something bad will happen.

Then it's a good thing there's plenty of room for Buxton in Minnesota.

[DocBauer]

If there is any chance of keeping him healthy, I actually like this move. His career numbers, despite the lack of pure power that was expected, are quite solid. He's a solid 4th OF candidate. Though if Buxton is in CF, I'm not certain there is room for anyone, initially, besides Arcia for the 4th spot. But thus is a solid move.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

When the Cubs had to make their final roster decision heading into 2015, they opted to go with an additional infielder in Jonathan Herrera rather than the veteran outfielder, and designated Sweeney for assignment, paying him $1.5 million in the process. While he never played for another team over the rest of the season, Sweeney’s representative said in an email that the seven-year veteran had other playing options for 2014 but choose instead to recover from the various injuries including the hamstring issue and also a case of plantar fasciitis that affected his performance over the last several years. Heading into his age-30 season, Sweeney was committed to coming into 2016 at one hundred percent.

Actually, the Cubs owed Sweeney $2 mil upon release (his $1.5 mil salary for 2015, and a $500k buyout on a 2016 option -- I was surprised he was signed for such a long term).

 

The rest of his 2015 story sounds a little like Jason Bartlett circa 2013...

[Seth Stohs]

And, Sweeney is from Cedar Rapids!

 

My guess is of Mastroianna, Benson and Sweeney... Two will be in Rochester, one will be released, at the end of spring training. And, if Buxton starts in AAA, maybe one of them could be the 4th/5th OF for the first 4-6 weeks.

[Parker Hageman]

My guess is of Mastroianna, Benson and Sweeney... Two will be in Rochester, one will be released, at the end of spring training. And, if Buxton starts in AAA, maybe one of them could be the 4th/5th OF for the first 4-6 weeks.

 

 

#Mastroianna

 

That scenario sounds about right. 

 

[Rosterman]

Or one will be a designated hitter.

 

[sane09]

 

Or one will be a designated hitter.

Ahead of Park, Vargas and Arcia? IDT so.

[d-mac]

I like this pick up. He has rated as an above average defender at all 3 outfield positions according to fangraphs, plus a career wRC+ or 94 is not bad for a CF with plus defense. I am not confident at all with Buxton as our starting CF out of spring training- he was woefully overmatched last year in his small sample size look. Roll with Sweeny as our starting CF out of spring training so Buxton can get two months worth of AAA PA's would probably be ideal. Sweeny would give us a very quality bench and 4th outfielder option.

[ScrapTheNickname]

I took a look at Ryan Sweeney's splits. As a left-handed hitter, over 70% of his ABs have come against right-handed pitching. Over his career he has hit a measly OPS of .613 against lefties. In other words, he's almost exclusively a platoon player.

[scottz]

We got him.

[Monkeypaws]

Ryan is giving Molitor some options. I'm a lot like TR in that I like looking for bargains more than I like paying top dollar. 

 

Given the prospects the Twins have, I think this is a pretty good approach.

 

BTW, I think Buxton will shock a lot of folks next season, i.e. all the hand-wringing over trading Hicks will seem laughable.

 

Bold prediction, or is my crystal ball better than yours? 

 

We shall see.

[h2oface]

Terry Ryan is just out doing himself. I hate how the Twins' AAA team is always so old, and used to stock less than replacement value players instead of having the real prospects compete at a higher level. The dumpster diving mentality has extended to the whole team instead of just the bullpen. 

[Thrylos]

Former top 50 BA prospect, 30 years old, lefty, never realized his potential, bit of a head case...

 

Sounds a lot like Jordan Schafer, maybe a tad better with both the glove and the stick.

[Thrylos]

 

 

And, Sweeney is from Cedar Rapids!

 

And might end up playing at home this season

 

[mikelink45]

Amazing - it is like picking at the bones of a holiday dinner.  We have no meat to roast on our hot stove so we keep making soup out of the trimmings that float our way.  And now we will have a left handed relief pitcher to talk about as well.  Toss another kleenex on the fire!

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

Ryan is giving Molitor some options. I'm a lot like TR in that I like looking for bargains more than I like paying top dollar. 

 

Given the prospects the Twins have, I think this is a pretty good approach.

 

BTW, I think Buxton will shock a lot of folks next season, i.e. all the hand-wringing over trading Hicks will seem laughable.

 

Bold prediction, or is my crystal ball better than yours? 

 

We shall see.

I would say, based on evidence, you are making more than a bold prediction. You are making an insanely unfounded prediction. That said, I do hope you are right, and a religion will be named after you.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

 

Amazing - it is like picking at the bones of a holiday dinner.  We have no meat to roast on our hot stove so we keep making soup out of the trimmings that float our way.  And now we will have a left handed relief pitcher to talk about as well.  Toss another kleenex on the fire!

I love your post.

 

However, the guy from Korea has some meat on him.

[Monkeypaws]

Oooh la la the negativity.  :shoot:

[AKTwins]

I like this move for the low risk, potential decent reward. Sweeney is a better player than Robinson. However, if this is to solve the potential issue that buxton may not be ready at the end of spring training, I don't like it. Why not just give Davis $5 million for a year. If this is just for AAA depth nothing wrong with that.

[Darius]

He'll probably start in CF and hit .180 until August.

[BoomBoom]

The Twins I believe had 2 extra base hits on the entire season last year from Pinch Hitters.  The worst recorded pinch hitting season in Twins history (statistical fact).  My 4th outfielder would have to have more impact on the bat end rather than the defensive end for me.  I'd rather see an Arcia or Walker as my 4th outfielder simply for the potential to change a game with 1 swing.  Walker averages 31 doubles and 34 home runs on average (162 game season) in his minor league career.  At his worst - he still does better than whomever the Twins had last year.  These recent signings don't do it for me if we are talking 4th outfielder.  With Arcia or Walker you don't have to worry about 200 strikeouts (haha) and they get daily lessons from Brunansky in hitting drills.  Guaranteed to catch more than 2 XBH on the year.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Former top 50 BA prospect, 30 years old, lefty, never realized his potential, bit of a head case...

 

Sounds a lot like Jordan Schafer, maybe a tad better with both the glove and the stick.

 

If that's the case, that's a pretty solid fourth outfielder... I'm not sure he's capable of that any more, but maybe.

[Kwak]

Amazing how people get so worked-up about guys they hope they never see play--yet they pant at the prospect of Arcia in the Twins OF!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Amazing how people get so worked-up about guys they hope they never see play--yet they pant at the prospect of Arcia in the Twins OF!

I pant at the prospect of his bat...  if that means he plays in the outfield for the first 6-8 innings most nights, I can live with that. Arcia may be bad, but it's not like he's Kyle Schwarber bad

[nicksaviking]

I'm not usually against minor league signings but Sweeny, Benson and Mastroianni? That speaks pretty loudly that they aren't going to go get an actual MLB outfielder even though they really, really need one who can hit lefties since Rosario, Arcia and Kepler are in the mix.

 

I just don't get it. Chris Young and Ryan Rayburn will be very affordable (though I guess not minor league contract cheap) and Raji Davis wasn't expensive.

 

I've said several times recently that I thought the Twins didn't have money issues, but just didn't want more long term commitments at the moment. I'm wondering now though if Park's $12.5M negotiation fee did actually eat up every dime available this year.