SEAL DEALS

the A's signed Keith Foulke to a substantial deal on Friday. Substantial in that it seems like a load of bread upfront for a guy who retired. And for a pitcher who lived off his change-up, doesn't have his fastball any longer and recently had bone chips removed. Here are a few issues with the Mark Sweeney signing;

• Foulke's age; 35



• Foulke was trending in the wrong direction for two seasons prior to his retirement.




• Without a secondary pitch to off set the change-up Foulke necessarily becomes a liability whether starting, in long or short relief.




• According to reports the salary for Foulke is $700,000 with incentives that can reach $2.5 Million - that is a lot for a guy who has not faced live hitting in two seasons.




• Foulke's deal is a major league deal; meaning he is on the 25 Man Roster and Wes Bankston was designated for assignment to clear room on the 40 Man Roster.




• While Foulke says his arm feels the best it has in three to four years - results and outcomes matter more than how the guy's arm feels.

The deal could very well work out with Foulke providing moderate relief for a team that aspires for .500 baseball in 2008. It simply does not bode well for a pitcher like Brad Ziegler who should break camp on the 25 Man Roster and by June be a huge trading chip for the A's.


This brings us to the signing of Mark Sweeney. It's no secret that Billy Beane has long coveted Sweeney. Beane called him the best hitter in the American League at the beginning of the century. However, again, the A's are banking on 'hope' and that rarely works for them. Here are a few issues with the Sweeney signing:

• Sweeney doesn't have the personality that fits in well with some players, coaches and management.




• Sweeney is already in the doghouse for reporting the signing prior to local media prior to actually signing a contract.




• Sweeney has yet to pass a physical that has been reported.




• Sweeney's Christian antics have caused issue in the past.




• Sweeney does not have the best track record in the clubhouse.

There are positives with the deal. It is a minor league deal. It's not clear if he will be placed on the 40 Man Roster or not. Then again, Sweeney's report didn't exactly mention that. If he is not treated like the 'royalty' that he has been made out to be there could be further problems.


Sweeney has hit well at the Coliseum in his career, just off his career marks:


Career .299/.369/.492
Coliseum .291/.386/.477


What does cause some raised eyebrows is the continual mention of trading Dan Johnson and Daric Barton as the 1st baseman. Barton's ability around the first base bag is far better as a hitter than a fielder. He was so bad in Sacramento he was moved to 3rd base to lessen the number of chanced he would touch the ball. Remember this is a player who was effectively removed from catching duties within a few minutes of catching the first day pitchers and catchers reported in 2005. DJ is by far the better fielder but his career in Oakland has been tarnished by the A's coaching staff messing with his mind, health and swing.


As an A's fan I would much rather see the A's package a deal around Jack Cust than DJ leaving Barton as DH. Sweeney really doesn't make sense in the least. Recall what having a permanent DH does to the 25 Man Roster with limitations. With 3 DH's it makes it all the more complicated.