Sweeney hopes to stay on as a voice of experience

Pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney said that when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season, he would like to re-sign with the Dodgers.

“I’m kind of one of those strange guys who’s loyal to people who give me an opportunity,” said Sweeney, who was acquired in a trade from San Francisco in August. “Any time a team trades for you it’s a nice thing. But I don’t know what their feeling is.”

Sweeney, 37, ranks second all-time in pinch-hits with 160.

He has hit .214 for the Dodgers, collecting six hits in 28 at-bats. He is hitting .246 this season, his 13th in the big leagues.

Retiring, he said, is not something he’ll do voluntarily.

“I’m going to play until they rip the uniform off,” he said.

Sweeney says he understands that there might not be much of a market for a pinch-hitter his age.

But he said that if he has any choice, he prefers to remain in the National League West. He has played on four of the division’s five teams over the last six seasons.

“Being in the West, the closers aren’t going to change,” Sweeney said. “Familiarity is important. Being in these ballparks, I know how they work.”

A team leader in San Francisco, Sweeney says he thinks that if he is asked back he could be an asset in a clubhouse that has been fragmented this season.

“I’ve been in clubhouses that were worse, I’ve been in clubhouses that were better,” Sweeney said. “What cures that is winning. The atmosphere here is not one that is conducive to winning every day.”

But because of when he joined the team and his limited role on it, Sweeney said he had so far kept a low profile.

“I don’t want to be the guy that forces the hand. I think a lot of that has to do with the timing. The first priority is to fit in. The second priority is to lend information that will help.

“I’m passing on knowledge that’s been passed onto me. That’s part of the job.”

Tony Abreu says the leg strain he suffered Sunday in Arizona is severe enough to keep him out the rest of the season.

“This entire area hurts,” Abreu said, circling his hand around the area from his right groin to hip. “I don’t think I’ll be able to play. I was hoping to finish strong to show these people that I could play here.”

And Abreu, who could share time with Jeff Kent at second base next season, is no longer sure if he’ll be able to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic as he had planned.

Abreu underwent an MRI exam Tuesday but has not received the results. He said he was unable to run.

The injury Abreu suffered lunging for a ground ball was related to the abdominal strain he suffered in July, trainer Stan Conte said.

The severity of Abreu’s original injury has been a subject of debate between the Dodgers and Abreu’s representatives. Agent Scott Boras said the injury was severe enough that Abreu should have been put on the major league disabled list before being sent to triple-A Las Vegas, which would have allowed him to gain service time and draw a big-league salary.

The players’ union is still investigating the matter to decide whether to file a grievance on Abreu’s behalf.

Rafael Furcal sat out his seventh game in a row because of pain in his lower back. He said he was unable to run.

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dylan.hernandez@latimes.com