While the Rockies have been linked to Michael Young in recent trade rumors, reports differ on the likelihood of the Rox consummating a deal with the Rangers. For what it's worth, ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Insider required) asked five talent evaluators for their opinions on Young, and the responses suggested he'd be a good fit in Colorado. The majority felt that second base was the most appropriate infield position for Young, and though two evaluators expressed concern about the veteran's home/road splits, Coors Field is one of baseball's few stadiums that's as hitter-friendly as the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Here are the rest of this morning's Rockies-related links:
- Within a Denver Post piece about Troy Tulowitzki's offseason, Troy Renck says the shortstop is hoping the Rockies bring in another veteran hitter. There aren't a ton of free agent bats left, though Young would qualify as a second base upgrade.
- Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post wonders if Huston Street's days in Colorado could be numbered. The Rockies closer is under contract through 2012, with a 2013 option, but Armstrong suggests that the multiyear deals awarded to Matt Lindstrom and Rafael Betancourt give the club the flexibility to move Street if they want to.
The Rockies have all the leverage on any Young deal. Unless another suitor comes forward, it looks like they’re the only ones interested and time is not on the Rangers side. I think the Rangers feel like Young will got old quick and want to move him while his value is high and his 10/5 rights haven’t vested yet. That means if the Rangers want to trade Young at all and miss out on the awkward transition to bench player Young is likely to make soon, they’ll have to make a lopsided trade with the Rockies now.
I agree with the recent distaste in Michael Young’s mouth I would thing he wants out of Texas. Leaving the Rockies with the power in a non must trade. Still, I think it will be hard for the Rockies to get pieces involved in the trade that may be big enough to compete with other teams for Michael Young we’ll see how it plays out.
Any chance Street (Longhorn alum) is included in a Michael Young deal?..Street would enable TEX to slide Feliz into the rotation.
Interesting. It could be a fit, but I think the Rangers are keeping Feliz in the closers role. Maybe he could be used to set Feliz up and Agando could be moved to the rotation.
I doubt it. I don’t really want to see Lindstrom close, and Betancourt has never been able to close, he’s just a great 8th inning guy.
The sample size on Betancourt is not big enough to judge whether or not he can close.
He’s said he doesn’t want to close, he really doesn’t like it. Otherwise Cleveland would have used him more in that roll instead if Wood given how disastrous he was for Cleveland. Not only would that have increased Betancourt’s trade value but it may have allowed the Indians to win more games.
I agree. Good question. If Texas wants to avoid straight-up eating money, then Street and Lopez would be a good return for Young. Street’s getting $7 million/year, and Lopez gets $4 million this year, so Colorado only adds about $5 million in salary for 2011.
And then, yes, it allows Feliz to try to start, ro Street is a good guy as a setup option.
I wonder why that hasn’t been an attempted rumor yet.
Personally, I say Soriano and Baker with cash for Young, then Baker can be the backup 2B/3B for Texas, and Sori can DH, and Young can be the starter at second for the Cubs.
The Rockies are going to get Young within the next couple of days. The Rangers are in a “now or never” mood, since Young will have 10-5 rights in May. If the Rangers eat at around 20-25 million, this deal will get done. Get this deal done, so I can stop hearing that they’re close, to not talking at all.
Betancourt doesn’t close, period dot. He doesn’t like it, he’s not comfortable with it. And I wouldn’t trust Lindstrom to close over an extended period of time either.
Young’s (not Young Jr) defense is poor at 3B, would he really be better at 2B? I don’t really want to roll the dice on that.
His bat would be fine at Coors, there’s not much to lose here. He goes out every day and gives it everything he’s got. Sure, he makes errors but he’s never been a GREAT defender. With Young, it’s about his bat and leadership. He’s a lock for 175-200 hits a year.
Of course his bat would play at Coors, almost anyone’s bat will play well (or at least better) at Coors. I have no issue with the offense, but I’m worried about a poor corner IF moving back up the middle. It doesn’t seem like a good fit defensively and it’s not a fit I’d like to see the Rockies try to make.
Offensively Young is better than any 2B options available to the Rockies, and I like him better in a move to 1B to spell Helton or occasionally to 3B to give Stewart some time off. But as an every day 2B? I don’t like it.
If the Rangers are eating most of the salary though, it’s a no brainer. I’d take young any day. His bat will make up for errors more often than not.
The more salary the Rangers eat, the more talent they’ll demand come their way. I don’t like the idea of acquiring poor defense up the middle with a decent bat for talent that could be developed into something special down the road. Depending on what’s given up Young wouldn’t be too bad, but MI defense is just so important, I really don’t see why they’d want to put him there.
The Rockies have Eric Young Jr. They don’t need another Young unless it’s a father/son combo.
If EYJ could steal first base then he’d be all set. To me Herrera is a MUCH better option at 2B, but he’s got zero power just like EYJ.
Herrera is much better, EY has a hard time getting on base.
based on last year and his 189 ABs? when EY2 was hurt even after he came back? His minor league OBP is .385 and his career OBS is .410
I’m not sold on EYJ defensively to the point that his offensive inadequacies are easily overlooked. For me, Herrera is much better with the glove all-around, and he is certainly more versatile.
I will agree that the sample sizes at the big league level are a bit small, but here they are:
Young, Jr.: 81 G, 250 PA, .245/.308/.293 (54 OPS+)
Herrera: 104 G, 257 PA, .272/.337/.329 (71 OPS+)
In the minors:
Young, Jr.: 605 G, 2740 PA, .291/.382/.410
Herrera: 727 G, 3139 PA, .280/.346/.365
I also think this deal will get done once Texas decides to pay at least 50% of the remaining salary owed to Young. The Rangers should be in position once again to contend for the post-season and you cannot have a guy of Young’s stature moping around the clubhouse on a team in that position.
As long as the Rockies don’t give up too much or take on too much salary then I suppose I’d be good with it. Part of me shudders at the thought of Mike Young manning 2B for the next three years, though. However, if Ian Stewart fails to progress in 2011 it could open up the possibility of trading him and sliding Young over to 3B thru 2013 while giving Nolan Arenado a chance to progress thru the minors.
Street and Lopez makes sense. The Rox would then close with a committee of Belisle, Lindstrom and Betancourt. All of them would be great if not relied upon to fill that role 100%, and Tracy is the best at managing a bullpen.
“closer by committee”…never makes sense. Belisle or Lindstrom could close…but..Rockies would rather wait on trading Street until Rex Brothers was closer the majors
Street and Lopez makes sense. The money is more in line with what the Rockies can handle, and they would then use Belisle, Lindstrom and perhaps Betancourt in the closers role. Tracy is the best at handling a bullpen, and he could make that work without wearing anyone out. The Rox really stocked their staff with bullpen alternatives to make this a viable option.
Sending Street to Texas for Young would help the PR nightmare that will likely ensue. “The Rangers have traded the face of the franchise and all-time hits leader plus twenty million dollars to the Colorado Rockies for a bum utility infielder and Longhorn alumni Huston Street.”
Even when Young’s 10/5 rights kick in, he will gladly accept a trade if he’s not getting time in the field and plenty of at-bats.
If he was the ultimate team player he would give some money back and do whatever ownership tells him to do. But I guess it’s not his fault he’s a big flapping sea bird.
He’s given that franchise just as much as they have given him. The dude wants to play nuff said. He was the catalyst of that team through some pretty hard times and stuck by the team and the ownership, never complaining, knowing he’d get his shot at a ring one day. And instead of blaming Young for wanting to leave maybe take a look at the front office and how they have handled this situation. Its a 2 way street.
Uhhh yess, still remember like it was yesterday. Magglio at the plate and Street on the mound. Bottom of the 9th. Freaking walkoff!! Game over, ALCS over, season over and killed my buzz. Damn it! This year my friends, this year