MLBTR reports that the Cubs have signed outfielder Ryan Sweeney
to a two-year, $3.5MM contract, according to Bob Nightengale of USA
Today. Sweeney will earn $1.5MM in 2014 and again in 2015. The Cubs hold
a $2.5MM option on Sweeney for the 2016 season that contains a $500K
buyout.
Sweeney, 29, had a slash line .266/.324/.448 with six
homers in 212 plate appearances in 2013. He had a 0.4 WAR. He missed nearly 60 games due to a
broken rib that he suffered when colliding with the outfield wall to
make a catch.
In 8 pro seasons, he has .278 BA, 20 HR, 204 RBI, 6.3 career WAR. He is to prototypical journeyman bench outfielder.
What this signals is that the Cubs are not going to upgrade their outfield positions this off season with the signing of a major free agent like Jacob Ellsbury or Shin-Soo Choo.
The 2014 outfield free agent class (age) includes:
Jason Bay (35)
Austin Kearns (34)
Nate McLouth (32)
Mike Morse (32)
David Murphy (32)
Laynce Nix (33)
Juan Pierre (36)
Grady Sizemore (31)
Delmon Young (28)
Rick Ankiel (34)
Rajai Davis (33)
Jacoby Ellsbury (30)
Curtis Granderson (33)
Andres Torres (36)
Carlos Beltran (37)
Marlon Byrd (36)
Shin-Soo Choo (31)
Nelson Cruz (33)
Jeff Francoeur (30)
Corey Hart (32)
Grady Sizemore (31)
It also shows that the the two year deal means that Sweeney will not be blocking any prospect promotion for the next two years. That means the major league rebuild will be pushed back another year. The roster revamp will begin more likely in 2017.
