FORT MYERS, Fla. -- When Ryan Sweeney was released by the Cubs at the end of Spring Training last year, he had options and could have signed elsewhere, but the nine-year veteran figured he'd rather take the year off than play in the Minor Leagues and work his way back to the Majors.
Sweeney was still being paid by the Cubs -- they owed him his $1.5 million salary and a $500,000 buyout -- and he figured that would allow him to get healthy and ready for another shot in 2016. That chance is now here, and Sweeney has made the most of it with the Twins.