The Rockies aren't in on Michael Young, but other clubs have at least some interest in the Rangers infielder. Young would consider trades on a case-by-case basis, though he can veto deals to teams other than the Cardinals, Yankees, Twins, Astros, Rockies, Dodgers, Angels and Padres. Yesterday we found out that the Cardinals, Twins, Mariners and Tigers have little or no interest in Young. The Astros, however, like Young's tools to an extent and might consider sending Carlos Lee to the Rangers for him. Here's the latest on Young, with the most recent updates up top:
- The Phillies recently contacted the Rangers to express interest in Young, three league sources told Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com. The talks ultimately didn't get very far and are no longer active. One of the sources characterized the interaction as "tire kicking" on the part of the Phillies. It should be noted that the Phillies are not one of the eight clubs that Young would approve trades to, though the 34-year-old says that he would consider deals to teams not on the list.
- The Yankees aren't expected to pursue Young, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
- Several people involved with the Young situation tell Jon Heyman of SI.com that they believe there’s a “decent chance” that the Rangers open Spring Training with Young. Texas is talking to multiple teams about Young and for now the Rangers are discussing deals with clubs that Young would accept trades to.
- The Angels have little interest in picking up most of Young’s contract or assembling a package of players that would appeal to the Rangers, according to Mike DiGiovanna and Steve Dilbeck of the LA Times. Texas is looking for starting pitching and a position player who can help at the Major League level. The Angels would part with Scott Kazmir and Fernando Rodney, but those players have little appeal to the Rangers.
- The Dodgers have some concern about Young’s defense and power, according to DiGiovanna and Dilbeck.
- The Mets should consider acquiring Young, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The Mets could send Jason Bay to the Rangers, who are known to be seeking a DH type, and New York could then either keep Young or flip him to another team, with net salary savings in either scenario.
Trade him for Lee!!
Kazmir for young. Sounds good to me!
heck well throw rodney in too!!! 🙂
haha young is not as great as he looks from afar anymore. he hit .280 in arlingtons’s hitter heaven, so you’d expect it to go down even a little more in pitcher-friendly angel stadium. also he has no range at 3B, i would rather see a platoon of maicer and callaspo at 3B then young. the hitting wouldnt be significantly different, and the fielding would at least be passable. putting young as our dh would also be useless, we have abreu, and if we needed a dh we shouldve got vlad.
but most importantly, kaz contract is up after this year, young has 3 more years, lets not get 3 hefty, long-term contracts yeah?
Micheal Young to the astronauts for Carlos Lee! Woah!! The Astros have aspiration of replacing the Pittsburgh Pirates at the bottom of the totem poll.
The weird thing is that there have been teams that just threw a bunch of youngsters out there to play and somehow managed to make it to the World Series, like the Rockies and Marlins.
Wow, you do know baseball so well. The Rockies just threw some guys out there, no real talent, just lucked into the WS, w/ guys like Tulo, Holliday and a young Jimenez.
If you noticed when the teams did that, that how many of those guys became great players? Take the Marlins, they had Josh Beckett, Miguel Cabrera, Derrek Lee, Juan Pierre, Mike Lowell, Carl Pavano, A J Burnett…etc. It takes a lot of great young guys at the right time to get there.
AJ Burnett is awesome. like seriously. i think 2010 was his best year. Obviously an ace worth 16.5 million dollars per year.
Burnett just sucks now. He was good with Florida and Toronto and now the Yankees are paying for his prime years hes done
if the Astros would trade Lee, do it. Lee could also play some at 1B with Texas, and he would have better numbers than Young. Lee only had .246 AVG in 2010, but he also only had .238 BABIP. he will get back to his normal levels.
not sure why Houston would want Young for Lee.
They are both 34, but MY is about 70 lbs lighter and has better intangibles, like team leadership. He would be one of the veterans a team would want to mentor its youngsters and the Astros are going young at a lot of positions as they get ready for their team sale.
Despite the comments on the Times article page, the Rangers are not desperate to trade MY or forced to do any deal they can make. As evident by the lack of offers for Young, he just isn’t that wanted around MLB because everybody already knows about his declining abilities. The only reason I can think of for trading MY now is the team chemistry issue. Blah. MY has to know he isn’t going to stay home and not show up for spring training or for the regular season–presumably the Rangers could suspend him or void his contract if he disappears–and he isn’t going to walk up to every player everyday and whimper to them about how the team is mistreating him…while he cashes in on his $16 mil for this year and the next 2 years. He’s going to sit by his locker with a frown on his face and be there…because he has to or he won’t get traded and he needs the at bats to show possible trade partners that they want his bat and glove on the odd days he relieves someone in the IF.
Bottom line: If I am JD and the owners, I remind MY he is under contract until it expires, a trade will be done only if the right deal that benefits the Rangers comes up and to take advantage of every opportunity he is given to showcase that he is better than his numbers show. That’s it and everybody moves on to the next story.
coming from someone who saw a player, Manny Ramirez, stir up trouble and quit on your team, you dont want an angry, disgruntled veteran like Young on your team. Not to mention how Daniels owes Young this for lying to him about shopping him. Dont think other players dont notice how the face of the franchise was misled!
I’d hardly compare Michael Young to Manny Ramirez when it comes to the clubhouse. Young is a professional. He never quit on his team like Ramirez has on his several times. If the Rangers can’t swing a trade, or until they do, he’ll make the best of it.
But Manny hadn’t quit on his team either… until he did.
“-presumably the Rangers could suspend him or void his contract if he disappears–and he isn’t going to walk up to every player everyday and whimper to them about how the team is mistreating him”
Hard to get away with voiding a contract when a player gets convicted of wife beating.. Like Ex Rays (and well traveled) Elijah Dukes and a later poster child for contract voidance for misappropriate behavior would be Milton Bradley (you pick the team) yet it has not yet been done. Blame the MLBPA for this..
Come on Cubs, get this guy. He’s headed to your division and brings intangibles with him that are invaluable.
Aren’t the Cubs bad?
Well, considering the Astros are trying to trade for him??? If I’m Young, I’d think about the Cubs. At least he play at Wrigley with full crowds.
Well, if there’s one club out there that has a bevy of bad contracts that could be swapped for Young’s, it would be the Cubs.
Texas wants a bat and a pitcher. The best swap team for team is still Ibanez and Blanton for Young straight up, with some deferrment of salary to Philly. Young plays LF, and provides infield insurance. If he doesn’t wanna go, then he needs to shut up and collect his check.
Oh, Michael Young will not be pleased with this disrespect at all! He better demand that the Rockies, Astros, Dodgers and Angels stop trying to trade for him.
wait until they realize he can’t play defense and ask him to {gasp} switch positions….
He might go postal!
Daniel sure doesn’t get it. He is in a corner and everyone knows he needs to trade MY. You are not going to get a starter unless you pay most of the money. Daniel new book will be coming out next year called dismantle ball how to destroy a near championship team.
I think this is an excellent indictment of the people yesterday saying Texas would be able to get a good prospect or two for Young, if they picked up $20m in salary…no, they won’t. Two pretty washed-up overpaid ML guys, plus Texas picking up salary, is the best offer we’ve seen.
Sad to say he just doesn’t have much value. Decent player, good in his prime but…if they wanted something of value in return, it’s too late.
I agree from what I’ve heard so far. Looks like their best chances to move him will be right before the deadline/ if someones key player gets hurt that needs a guy like Young/ or sometime next season when he has very little time left on his contract. Teams are just not willing to pay that much $$$ to a guy who isn’t very good defensively and doesn’t have a very good OBP every year. I love MY and hope this guy does get traded soon. If the Mets weren’t going to Hell in a hand basket I’d like to see them get him.
What about Jason Bay for Michael Young?
Jason Bay for Michael Young?
Not happening obviously…and Young would have to move to second base.
But I thought the Mets could use a 2nd baseman as they want to cut ties with Castillo.
Young can’t play second base
hey dude..
How bout Jason Bay for Young.. bet you haven’t thought of that
Send them Mark Teahen….Please
Manny Ramirez will out-produce MY this year and he only cost $1M. Vlad surprised everyone and got $8M – but that would still be way less than MY if Texas picks up $20M. Take Young out of Texas and he is Ryan Theriot! No wait – Theriot can play defense. 🙂
Uh…no he isn’t.
You’re kidding right????
About which part? I’m afraid that Manny will be a heck of a bargain for TB this year. I never thought his weight to be an issue while in LA, but his pride and work ethic seem to fly under the radar compared to the whole Manny Mystique, and he says he’s +/- 15Lbs down from last year, and he is recovered from his mystery (Boras-created?) groin ailment. TB should be happy with a .310/20 HR/85 RBI year for 1MM.
Oh wait, this is a Michael Young thread…
Did you see, people, that gumby here’s proclaiming that the Rays are going to win it all just because they got Manny for a bargain!!! And dgrfns says Ryan Theriot’s the second coming of Elvis Andrus defensively, even though the Cubs let him go. And they failed to resign him to play 2b even though the team’s not really set at that position. Farcical these people are, I tell ya!!!
The Cubs traded TheRIOT and Lilly for Blake Dewitt(most likely their starting 2nd baseman) and a pitching prospect. So the Cubs didn’t let him go.. Manny for 2 million is the biggest bargain of the offseason.
So @something are you agreeing with OP that Theriot is as good as defensively as MY? Don’t seem to remember him winning that gold glove thing…let’s see here…nope. The Cubs traded him and could have acquired him back as the Cards did….which is as good as saying they didn’t want him back. And Nick or should I call you Manny Ramirez? How you doin’ after that bout with performance enhancing substances…not playing as well as you used to after that incident. Your friend gumby here seems to want to exaggerate your abilities. I seem to interpret him saying you got a work ethic now…don’t know where he’s headed with this but sure is funny! Or maybe your Jon Daniels and in your zeal to undermine your team leader, you gone and compared his defensive skills with that of Ryan Theriot. As long as were into exaggerations, why can’t lous222 make them as well?
By the way, I argue these points not to be mean but to say that MY is more valuable that most of the big contracts on my team, the Cubs, and I’d gladly take him. So, I ask you again Mr. Hendry, why no deal???
Michael Young is that you?
Not once did either of those people say what you are trying to put into their mouths…
MY for Carlos Beltran
…
NO!
MY might be good as a second basemen for the mets but not that good…CB brings power, hits, and leadership to this club…his defense may not be as good as it once was because of surgery…but he is still gonna be pretty close the old hitter before the surgery…i think since he is fully recovered and ready for sp he will have an offensive explosion
Mets are trying to save money not waste it.
Dodger’s should send Padilla back to Texas lol
hopefully Colleti holds onto Padilla until mid May when Brian Cashman starts freaking out about having a 4th starter.
Yeah, I agree. I like Padilla for the bargain we got him. He’s a good trade chip later in the year and he’s going to be a very good innings eater out of the bullpen.
lol Texas wouldnt take him back even if the dodgers paid all of MYs salary
Rangers set the price for Michael Young so high, that no other team wants him. When the Rockies put together, something close to the original asking price, the Rangers moved the target UP-WARDS. And then they will say to Young “Hey we tried, but no one wants you but us….now go DH like a good trooper”
Michael Young is the new Carl Pavano of MLBTR
Yeah I’m sure it’s his power and defense that the Dodgers are worried about, not the 48 mil left on his contract.
I am so glad the dodgers f.o. realizes the folly of trading for michael young. At first glance, he seems a perfect fit. The dodgers want a steady third baseman as Blake is aging. MY is only 33 or so and would buy the dodgers some time to get someone developed.
But, according to his stats, MY would play Blake DeWitt’ish offense at dodgers stadium and has already devolved into Jeff Kentish defense. MY’s splits seem to indicate he needs to stay in a hitter’s park to retain the value he has.
the end :/ (i hope)
the rangers need to learn to keep their mouth shut regarding their players. now they are going to get next to nothing for an all star in michael young.
All these teams having issues with Young’s defense, power, and remaining contract… If Texas gets wind of this, they might get pissed off and increase their asking price yet again…
buddy no team wants him as it stands , increasing the asking their asking price would just make them look retarted.
You might want to tune up your sarcasm radar.
roger that
After reading all of these articles I am blown away even more that AA got anything for Wells.
Young’s numbers would likely fall away from Arlington, but not all the way to what his H/R splits indicate. Many though Holliday, who’s splits were even more exaggerated than Young’s, would be a .775 OPS player away from Coors. He never slugged .500 on the road while playing for the Rockies, but since being traded he’s done it two consecutive seasons in the not-so-hitter-friendly confines of Busch stadium. There are reasons, outside of park factor, why some players hit better at home.
If I were a GM, I’d be more worried about Young’s defense and contract than his ability to produce offensively. The Rangers HAVE to pay a large chunk of the salary unless they’re willing to take a bad contract back in return — this much is fact.
Although AA dumped a bad contract in Wells the Jays also lost their 2nd best hitter last year. The loss of Wells in the line-up will hurt the Jays in the short term. It gives them financial flexibility in the future, but that won’t help them in the long run againsn’t the Yanks and Sox. With there TV networks they will always out bid the Jays for top players.
You obviously havn’t heard of Rogers Sportsnet. Rogers communications is a massive company, and basically has a monopoly here. Do some research.
If thats the case why haven’t they signed major free agents like Crawford, Sabathia, Lackey, and Lee. I don’t think they were in on any of these players, and you let Halliday the best pitcher in baseball go. I don’t think the Sox or Yanks would do that. There also the tax on your money in Canada. As far as Rogers communication goes I admit my lack of knowledge, but it seems to me that if they are so big they aren’t as aggressive as the Sox and Yanks. They were so good years ago when they won the series it seems like they lost their edge. We will see in the next few years how this turns out.
First off- they didn’t “let” Halladay go. The Jays would’ve been happy to give him whatever he wanted, but he wanted out. Second- they could easily afford to sign big time free agents, but it just doesn’t make sense at this time. Why have a huge contract when you’re not ready to contend? It’s bad business.
I really believe that if they were more competetive, which in a few years I believe they will be, the ownership will spend more money.
Wow.. Young for Lee? Talk about liquidating your assets? Whos running that dog and pony show down there in Houston. I understand they are trying to re-build but you gotta have a guy to rebuild around and Young is not the guy. Either is Pence. All good though, Cards fan here. Make the central a little weaker I say!
So theyll build around Carlos Lee?? No one said they would build around MY hes just a better fit rite now in Houston then Lee
I dont think so
Some do
Most dont.
why didnt they tell vlad theyll resign him, then trade yougn for w/e? now they have ot trade him and find a new DH? lold
What about Young and a prospect for Matt Kemp?
Rangers OF would look pretty good
Kemp, Cruz, and Hamilton
Kemp could also do some damage as a DH in that ballpark
hahahahaha
young and borbon for kemp?
i dont see the dodgers trading kemp even though i would definitely like him on the rangers.
Young and Tanner Scheppers for Matt Kemp.
haha they are “trying” to move young not trade away their top pitching prospects…
Contrary to what every sportswriter in the nation seems to think, the Dodgers and their fans are still very high on Kemp…and rightly so.
Its not that far fetched of an option. Dodgers could get the better deal out of this considering the Rangers are really looking to move Young. Kemp is amazing and all but to get Young and a top prospect would be a good deal, for both sides. I dont know if Kemp has a NTC for Texas. Its no secret that the Dodgers have been listening to possible trades for Kemp (Colby Rasmus for Kemp was a possibility) but to get Young and a prospect would be a better deal for LA.
Jesus christ… are you serious?
Hope you have your flame suit on
LMAO.
that’s a ridiculous offer.
doesn’t Lee have a NTC that includes the Rangers?
so to sum it up…. Based on yesterdays and todays info…
Cardinals – not interested according to St.Louis and not talking.
Yankees – Not interested, not pursuing.
Twins – not interested, not pursuing
Astros – Interested, but the player they’d move has a no trade clause to Texas.
Rockies – Were interested, but not anymore.
Dodgers – Interested, but BROKE
Angels – Interested but would need to be willing to be bent over and overpay.
Padres – NO COMMENTS
HEY PADRES FANS, YOU’RE GETTING MICHAEL YOUNG!
Young for Ludwick straight up!
Carlos Lee? Scott Kazmir? Fernando Rodney? Jason Bay? The pending Young trade and the associated rumors figures to be an all-out orgy of bad contracts. Why no talk yet of A.J. Burnett, Alfonso Soriano (yep, I know, he’s been there already), Carlos Zambrano, Barry Zito, Aaron Rowand, etc.?
The yanks without Burnett means Mitre starts, something the yanks don’t want, especially since they’d only get an expensive bench player. Soriano’s contract is worse that Young’s, Zambrano is actually worth more than Young, Zito in the Texas lauching pad would be a disaster for the Rangers. As for Rowand, why would the Rangers want an overpaid underproducing outfielder when they can keep their overpaid underproducing infielder.
That and the Yanks would have to acquire another player who knows how to deliver the towel filled with shaving cream to the face of the player being interviewed by the TV guys after a win.
A right-handed-hitting utility OF like Rowand actually makes a little sense from the Rangers perspective, though I can’t see the Giants having much interest in Young barring a Sanchez injury.
Burnett will win 16 this year.
Maybe. With a 4.90 ERA.
Burnett career ERA 3.99 11 years
I don’t dispute that Burnett used to be fairly good, only that he will be good next year.
At this point, Young needs to look at the writing on the wall.
1.) None of the teams on his list wants to trade for him because he is an aging infielder with deminishing (if not diminished) defensive skills with a bad contract, who does not represent an upgrade over what they currently have.
2.) The market for DH’s is non existent for teams that would be willing to pay his contract.
3.) there are probably teams not on his list that could make it work
4.) He would likely have to be willing to play where they want him, how they want him, etc…
5.) It may mean playing for a non contender in a city he doesn’t want to live in.
6.) His value, as he percieves it, is nowhere near the reality of his value to the rest of the industry.
When you are unhappy with your job, or where you feel your job is headed, you have three options, shut your mouth and do your job, get another job, or confront your boss and play your card. Option three only works when your boss values you as much as you value yourself, and usually, you are humble but get a burst of fire from someone. If you overvalue yourself, it backfires horribly.
Young is living in la la land, and completely overvalues his worth as a defensive player. The dude needs to realize that the job he’s been offered in Texas, is, pretty much, as good as its gonna get for him.
I think he’s dug himself a hole he’s gonna have a hard time getting out of at this point. realistically, his best opportunity for at bats, playing time, and competing is still in Texas.
2.)
He’s not unhappy with his job. He’s unhappy with HIS PLAYING TIME. His value was in part created by the team where he signed his contract. The problem with people who think he’s making too much rests on that fact and the fact that they want baseball to become like football. Or, the quintisential “what have you done for me lately” sport–whereby contracts aren’t guaranteed and players only get guaranteed signing bonuses. Players then can get replace by better players when teams don’t want them. Baseball’s not like that at all. Contracts that players may justify their worth one year (as in the year MY won a batting title) may not be justified by the time they’re at the end of their contract.
As a Cub fan, I’d much rather have Young at 2nd base for the next 3 years than Soriano in left for the next 4 years.
Soriano’s numbers would improve if he would burn his glove and become a full time D.H.
in Texas.
As much as I like your statement, it just isn’t going to happen.
Why in the hell would the Mets make that trade?
Lucas Duda gonna do it up dirty
So they’ll have somewhere to place Lucas Duda. After the season he had last year, I think the Mets would rather have Duda play in the majors than to let him rot in the minors. If Bay is gone, Duda gets LF to himself. Really, if the Mets & Rangers were to discuss a trade involving Young, maybe more could come out of it like say, adding Nelson Cruz to the deal and the Mets add K-Rod (since I heard the Rangers are considering converting Feliz into a starter) & prospects.
Michael Young for Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Zambrano, and cash
Iglesias & Dice-K for Young? Too much from the Red Sox?
Anybody see MLB Network’s panelists speculating on potential Young deals?
Billy Ripken would like to see Young to Orioles for Vladimir Guerrero. Briand Jordan says to the Cardinals for Colby Rasmus. What are these guys smoking and can I have some???
i hope they’re truly embarrassed about expressing those opinions
Young to the Dodgers for Loney. The Dodgers might be looking to move Loney and the Rangers need a first basemen.
please dont give “Flanders” any more ideas, plus the dodgers already have their quota for overpaid,over thirty gritty ballplayers
If they were looking to move him its because they want to shed salary..
It just seems like all the Dodgers fans want to dump Loney.
I’d rather have Young at 3rd or 2nd and Blake/Thames at 1st than Loney at 1st and Blake/Uribe at 3rd
So completely destroy the defense? Young is not a good hitter as of now, he will be a very bad hitter in LA.
Young for Cliff Lee
Throw in a box of popcorn and the Rangers might agree.
Michael Young for Joe Blanton and Raul Ibanez. Who hangs up first?
Why would Ruben hang up?
Loney would actually benefit ALOT from being moved from a pitcher’s park in LA to a hitter’s park in Texas, but I thought the Rangers had a first baseman?
Rangers should trade Ian Kinsler for a starting pitcher and put Michael Young back at 2B. The Rangers would not have to eat any money and they’d get the starting pitcher they really need.
You know that’s actually the smart thing the Rangers should do. Kinsler’s been injury prone anyway. You placate Young and the fans, and trade Kinsler for a SP. I wonder if the White Sox would do a trade for Kinsler, moving Beckham to 3b, for Gavin Floyd
Why won’t any of my replies post as replies???
This was suppose to be in reply to slider32’s comment
I give up…
Young and $$$ for Loney (benefits from a change of scenery), Belisario & Troncoso (out of jobs), Elbert (potential starter) or Ely, DeJesus (replaces Young as a utility type)
Loney – sub 800 OPS but is a fantastic defender and costs 5 million dollars
Young – sub 800 ops but can play many positions because he sucks at defense and must be moved to try and subdue that carnage.. Costs 50 million dollars plus James Loney and some other cost controlled kids.
Young and $$$ implies he wouldn’t cost 50 million dollars and all we’re losing other than Loney is some backup bullpen help seeing as how management won’t use everyone else in the proposed trade. Plus, the move might actually help Loney. I was reading an article with an interview with Don and you know who theyre considering for the #2 hole, Blake. C’mon!
“One of the sources characterized the interaction as “tire kicking” on the part of the Phillies.”
That makes them the favorites to get him.
How bout the Braves getting in on the tire kicking with a Derek Lowe offer. Not that I want to lose Lowe but the Braves are gonna need a better back up plan than Prado at third and whoever in left. Even though I’m a huge Chipper fan I don’t see him finishing the first half of the season at third.
The Angels should include Izturis with Kazmir and Rodney to the Rangers for Young and cash
I think Kazmir for Young is possible, but the Rangers are going to have to eat some of Young’s contract. I also like the Lowe for Young deal, the Rangers want a pitcher.
Yankees never said that there not interested…. they worded it to make it seem like there not go back and read it again.. yankees arent expected to pursure young!!! they werent expected to sign teix or soriono either were they?