Mike Sweeney vs. Carlos Beltran, Reconsidered

By CHRIS RASMUSSEN

Two events occurred that serve as a reminder concerning the most critical decision the Royals faced in the previous decade. First, Mike Sweeney’s left knee “locked up” this week, putting an end to his season and perhaps his major-league career. Second, the trade deadline passed – five years ago, the Royals traded away Carlos Beltran a month before the deadline.

There was a point in 2002 where the Royals opted to allocate its limited resources to Mike Sweeney and sign him to a lucrative long-term deal rather than allocate those resources to keep Beltran in Kansas City.