The Diamondbacks have discussed Michael Young with the Rangers, though a trade to Arizona remains a longshot. The Marlins have interest in Young, too, but like the D'Backs, they aren't eager to assume responsibility for the $48MM remaining on Young's contract. Here's the latest on Young, with the most recent updates up top:
- Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com spoke to an executive that said the Rangers would have to eat half of the money left on Young's contract to trade him, then predicted they wouldn't (Twitter link).
- Jeff Wilson of The Star Telegram spoke to GM Jon Daniels, who said the club will try to reach out to Young in the coming days to update him on trade talks and help clear the air. "We're not going to set a deadline or anything like that," said Daniels. "Once he's here (in Spring Training), we're going to move forward with the business of baseball. If something happens after that point, we'll address it. That's where we are."
- A source tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that there is "nothing really going on" between the Angels and Rangers regarding Young (Twitter link).
- Morosi adds that talks between the Rangers and Rockies are dormant, though they could restart if Texas offers to take on more money (Twitter link).
- Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News explored three teams the Rangers could still work out a trade with.
- The Rangers are still evaluating possible Young deals, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Twitter link).
- A Rockies source tells Troy Renck of the Denver Post that Colorado doesn't have much hope of restarting talks with Texas (Twitter link).
Lunchbox45
Michael Young for Albert Pujols?
Chuck345
What would MLBTR write about then?
davros42
the Yankees and the Red Sox, same as every other baseball site
crise
I can’t wait for the Cards’ next move, where they make his life hell until he agrees to a contract or a trade. You know the tricks: over-starch his uniform, locker near the can, early or late BP group (whichever bothers him more), lots of away games in spring training. He’ll buckle in days…
crise
Whatdoyoumean this isn’t an Albert Pujols thread?!? Someone change the title.
EDIT: Michael Young too: starch and bus rides and he’ll be tradeable by the end of the week. Or at least his approval won’t be the problem…
sourbob
I’d love to see a headline on this that calls it like it really is, “Texas spends all winter destroying remaining trade value of player, then struggles to trade him for handsome return.”
Lunchbox45
you win.
jwsox
how exactly did they destroy his trade value? he was asked to switch to a rotating DH super sub role when they signed the offensively and defensively superior Adrian Beltre. They didnt hurt his value at all, every single team has access to fangraphs to see his defensive metrics. thats what is hurting his value and his contract thats all.
vegasangelsfan
It’s not the teams’ decision to move him to DH that killed his value, it was MY’s demand to be traded. Once the player demands to be traded and says that he was lied to and manipulated by the GM, the team really has no choice but to move him or deal with the fallout. Once they have to move him, other teams know the Rangers are in a bind, and don’t have to offer as much because the Rangers have to move him.
sourbob
You’re talking in terms of his value as a player. And I agree with all of that. Thing is, when it comes to trades, players aren’t just players, or even contracts, they’re situations. And Young’s situation, after the Beltre and Napoli pickups is that he has to be traded, before it becomes a situation. What little leverage they might have had is effectively destroyed. They can’t even offer him simply as the overpaid, defensively shaky 2 WAR vet he is. It’s more like PRICE SLASHED! MUST SELL! Of course, they’re going to get less than they might have.
MadmanTX 2
No, more like “Office Space”: We don’t really like confrontation, so we’ll just ignore the player and hopefully he’ll realize he just shouldn’t show up at practice anymore.
BlueJay4Ever
“We fixed the glitch!”
sourbob
Yeah… we’re going to need to go ahead move your office (position) again.
WrigleyTerror37
Young for Sorknee will equal GLORY!!!!!
BK
The unsure “really” in the Angels and Rangers rumors made me pee myself as an Angels fan.
Dick Armada
No, really, the Angels don’t want Young.
Catztradamus
How about a three team deal.
Philly gets Michael Young and 16 million bucks
Colorado gets Placido Polanco
texas gets Joe Blanton and Jose Lopez.
Mark Janicik
I assume that post was a joke, right?
Catztradamus
Yes. 🙂
Mark Janicik
Haha okay, glad to see that you’re not crazy person.
John W
No way Colorado pays 16 million for Placido Polanco…. oh, you expect the Rangers to pay. lol not going to happen.
Bennie
The Rangers will just keep Young. At this point he is untradeable for anything of value.
John W
What do you mean “At this point? Daniels couldn’t have traded Young for a bag of balls without eating a substantial portion of Young’s salary when this whole fiasco began. To refuse to do that, and then demand premium talent in return is just ridiculous. Young is worth $6-8M a year tops, not the $16M Daniels signed him for.
Bennie
What is there to not understand about “At this point”. I don’t care how little of value MY was perceived to have by other teams, his ability to get traded took a big hit when he demanded a trade. Anytime anyone in any sport demands a trade it reduces leverage on the part of the team that already has that player. Why is that so difficult to understand.
woadude
Texas has to understand that they just stocked up on players….Young won’t be traded or even considered until mid may or the actual trading deadline, what is this the third Michael Young Wednesday? This trade is Not happening, where is the Prince Fielder Wednesday? everyone knows the Brewers are going to shop him.
rfffr
The Brewers are trying to win while they still have him. He won’t be traded before the deadline.
woadude
My point was they aren’t trading Young until the trade deadline and trust me when I say Prince will be shopped aggressively at the same time.
John W
Mid-May Young is a 10/5 guy and can’t be traded anywhere he doesn’t want to go. If you think the Rangers don’t have leverage now, just wait.
formerdraftpick 2
I know that this would never ever happen, but Young would be a nice fit batting 4th and playing SS for the Pirates.
Brad426
The defense at SS would not be pretty.
Jake F
MY is not a 4 hole hitter…Try slotting him into the 2 hole for any team you want him to be traded to though
MadmanTX 2
Usually a trade rumor is “sources say these two teams are talking deal”. What we keep seeing here is somebody saying “well, this team could use Young, so maybe they and the Rangers should talk trade”. The sports media equivalent of handing an arsonist matches and gasoline and then sitting back to watch the fun.
02waster
Why not this…Michael Young, Mitch Moreland, a bullpen arm and 22M to Florida for Josh Johnson and Gaby Sanchez?
fishfan4life
Maybe in fantasy land.
vegasangelsfan
Because Florida isn’t going to trade Josh Johnson, Florida doesn’t want to trade Gaby Sanchez, Florida doesn’t want MY, and Florida doesn’t want Mitch Moreland.
02waster
If they don’t trade Josh Johnson for something now then it’s a total loss. There’s no way they’re going to outbid anyone after he hits free agency this year.
cookmeister
that’s exactly what people were saying last year when they signed him to a 3 year extension
fishfan4life
lol just stop already
Milmurph
Young to the Cubs for Soriano, Smardja, and baker fills needs for both sides
02waster
no way rangers take soriano back
Catztradamus
Someone needs to leak to Heyman that the cards and Rangers are talking Pujols for Young straight up.
Matt R.
How did a Young-to-the-Diamondbacks rumor start this post, immediately after a “Diamondbacks sign Russel Branyan” post? Guess he gets a bench role, plays 1B, one less position for Young to get playing time at. I think it will take a mid-season injury at 2b or 1b to prompt a trade.
theanswer75
young for mike trout. angels eat all the salary and throw in ervin santana.
northsfbay
It must be a slow news day. It sure doesn’t sound like the Rangers are going to trade young.
The_BiRDS
So are the Rangers willing to absorb any of his contract if they make a trade? I lost track