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Michael Young

Quick Hits: Young, Papelbon, Marlins, Rangers

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On this day in 1989, the Yankees re-signed Tommy John, who was 45 years old at the time. John lost seven of the 10 starts he made in '89, and was released by the Yankees on May 30th. It would be his last stint in the majors. Of course, over two decades later, the southpaw is a bigger household name than ever, immortalized as the namesake of a surgical procedure now common among pitchers: Tommy John surgery. Here are the links for Sunday, as we celebrate the return of baseball. Pitchers and catchers report!

Quick Hits: D’Backs, Doumit, Wagner, Marlins

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Chuck Tanner, manager of Pittsburgh's last World Series championship team, passed away today at age 81.  Tanner played eight seasons in the majors but gained more fame as a manager, compiling a 401-414 record manning the benches of the White Sox, Athletics, Pirates and Braves from 1970 to 1988.  Tanner's lone postseason appearance came in 1979 when he led the "We Are Family" Bucs to victory over the Orioles in a tight, seven-game World Series.  The MLBTR team sends its condolences to Tanner's friends and family.

Some news to wrap up the week…

Verducci On Weaver, Lester, Pujols, Young

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Here's the latest from Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci….

  • Though the Angels won their arbitration hearing with Jered Weaver, Verducci thinks the fact that the case went all the way to a hearing is "a bad sign" for Weaver's future with the Halos.  It certainly doesn't help refute the purported hard feelings between the Angels and Weaver's agent Scott Boras.
  • Verducci compares the contracts and basic performance stats of Weaver, Chad Billingsley, Jon Lester and Cole Hamels.  Verducci guesses Boston saved at least $15MM by signing Lester to a multiyear deal before the 2009 season.
  • Just three players (Todd Helton, Raul Ibanez, and Ichiro) aged 36 years old or older managed to play 100 games in the field last season and reach the league average OPS of .728, Verducci writes.  This pronounced decline rate for older players is the reason the Cardinals are hesitant to pay Albert Pujols a $30MM annual salary into his late thirties.
  • The Rangers are still "the best fit" for Michael Young.  Verducci points out that Young should still be able to find lots of playing time with Texas, if not necessarily an everyday spot in the lineup.  Given how thin the trade market for Young appears to be, Young also may not have a choice but to remain in Texas.

Michael Young Rumors: Thursday

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Michael Young wants out of Texas and, despite the $48MM remaining on his contract, some of the Rangers' rivals are interested. The Phillies inquired on Young and though the Angels, Dodgers and Yankees appear to have little interest in the 34-year-old, other clubs could become involved. Here's the latest on Young, with the most recent updates up top:

  • Renck hears that the Rangers want more than they did six weeks ago, but the Rockies are not inclined to change their offer (Twitter link).
  • The Rockies thought they had a deal in place with the Rangers for Young about six weeks ago, writes Renck.  The Rockies would have given up a pair of solid prospects and were to take on about $20MM of Young's contract.  But then the Rangers missed out on free agent DH targets and at this time want more from the Rockies.
  • Rangers GM Jon Daniels told Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News that "nobody looks good right now" for a Young trade.  Daniels suggested that "if a deal is going to happen, it's probably going to happen" before Rangers position players report to Spring Training in nine days, though he does not consider February 19th a deadline.  He also told Grant the Rangers are not pursuing free agents to replace Young.
  • The Dodgers and Rangers had serious discussions about Young, but the sides didn't get close to a deal, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  One source told the FOX writers the Dodgers wanted the Rangers to assume "as much as" $36MM of the $48MM owed to Young.
  • The Rangers and Rockies both know the deal they want and seem to be waiting for the other club to blink, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
  • The Rangers don't expect to be able to move Young, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link). Teams have inquired, but there's no apparent fit.
  • Troy Renck of the Denver Post has been told multiple times that the Rockies are out unless the Rangers approach them again (Twitter link).
  • Angels GM Tony Reagins told Bill Shaikin of the LA Times that he's "not engaged" with another AL West team in trade talks (Twitter link). It doesn't sound like Young should pack his bags for Anaheim.
  • We heard Tuesday that the Rockies were out on Young, but they may still be interested in him. The Rockies haven't heard they're out of the bidding, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). The Rangers asked the Rockies for a "very good player" in exchange for Young and the sides are apart on money.

Quick Hits: Marcum, Blanco, Peavy, Pujols

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Links for Wednesday night..

Michael Young Rumors: Wednesday

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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.

Rockies Out Of Michael Young Trade Talks

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The Rockies are no longer among the potential trade partners to land the Rangers' Michael Young, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post.

A potential deal between the Rockies and Rangers was hampered not necessarily by money, blogs Renck, but by the Rangers' need to acquire a "bigger name player" than Eric Young Jr., whom they had targeted earlier this offseason. Further complicating matters was Vladimir Guerrero's recent agreement on a contract with the Orioles, Renck notes, leaving Texas less inclined to compromise on its financial or prospect demands in a Young swap without a suitable replacement to handle their DH duties (Twitter links). The Rangers' plan was, Renck notes, to spend the money they saved on Michael Young's offloaded contract on a DH type, but that option has dried up.

Potential suitors for Young seem to be dwindling, and one has to wonder whether a deal will get done as this situation grows increasingly tricky, as Renck tweets. It may simply come down to how hard the Rangers try to honor Young's request of a trade, tweets Buster Olney.

Michael Young Rumors: Tuesday

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The Rangers announced yesterday that Michael Young has had a change of heart and requested a trade. That's not quite the way Young sees it though. He told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that he has been "misled and manipulated and [has grown] sick of it." Here's the latest on Young, who can veto deals to teams other than the Cardinals, Yankees, Twins, Astros, Rockies, Dodgers, Angels and Padres, but would consider other destinations:

  • The Cardinals haven't heard from the Rangers about a possible trade and don't plan to initiate discussions, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. GM John Mozeliak didn't mention Young by name, but says his roster is set at this point and that he doesn't expect "any major additions at this point." The Cardinals have discussed Young before, according to Strauss.
  • It's time to forget the idea of Young going to the Astros, writes MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. The Astros like his tools, but not his contract. GM Ed Wade declined to comment on his club's interest.
  • The Rangers are increasing their asking price for Young, since it's harder to find offense now that Vladimir Guerrero has agreed to terms with the Orioles, according to Rosenthal (Twitter link).
  • The Twins have discussed trading for Young in previous years, but there's "zero chance" a deal happens now, according to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
  • The Mariners will "probably stay the course," GM Jack Zduriencik tells Morosi (Twitter link).
  • Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that the Tigers are "set" at second base (Twitter link). Detroit is also set at third and short, so Young isn't a fit.
  • A Carlos Lee for Michael Young trade is a longshot, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Lee, a former Ranger, can veto deals to 14 teams, including Texas.
  • The Dodgers have had preliminary talks about acquiring Young, writes Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. However, it's "a very long shot" that the sides agree to a deal, according to a baseball source.
  • There is no imminent deal with the Rockies, though Colorado has shown the most interest in Young, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.

Michael Young Reactions & Analysis

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You've heard the Rangers' side: Michael Young requested a trade. You've heard Young's side: Texas "misled and manipulated" him. By now, you've heard the latest rumors, too. In case that's not enough, we have assembled some reactions and analysis on the situation…

Michael Young Requests Trade

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TUESDAY, 12:10am: Young feels a breach of trust occurred with the Rangers in part because they told him they were not trying to trade him when they actually were, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark.  Stark adds that Young would be willing to consider expanding his eight-team list on a "case-to-case basis."

MONDAY, 10:34pm: MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan has the list of eight teams Young is willing to accept a trade to: Cardinals, Yankees, Twins, Astros, Rockies, Dodgers, Angels, and Padres. The team has said they are dealing with just those eight teams right now.

9:45pm: Grant passes along some strong words from Young…

"I've kept a low profile out of respect for the team, the coaching staff, my family and the fans because I didn't want to put anybody on an unnecessary roller-coaster. Now, I think it's important to address the inaccurate portrayal that is being painted. The suggestion that I've simply had a change of heart and asked for a trade is a manipulation of the truth."

"I want to be traded because I've been misled and manipulated and I'm sick of it."

Young wouldn't elaborate when asked how he was "misled and manipulated," instead saying it "would be unproductive for everybody, particularly my teammates and coaches. I know the truth and Jon Daniels knows the truth and I will sleep well."

9:16pm: Jeff Wilson of The Star Telegram hears that the Rangers would be willing to trade Young within the AL West as long as it helps improve the team. He reminds us that Texas traded high-end prospects to a division rival for Cliff Lee just last summer.

5:06pm: Michael Young has officially requested a trade according to Rangers GM Jon Daniels, reports Anthony Andro of The Star Telegram (Twitter links). The request came about a week ago, though Daniels said "nothing's imminent" according to SI.com's Jon Heyman (on Twitter).

"It's not our first choice," said Daniels. "We'd like to go to camp with him … If we can accomodate his request and upgrade the club he would like to do that."

Those quotes come courtesy of Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News and Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter links). Team president Nolan Ryan said they're "going to do what’s in the best interest of the ballclub" according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Ryan would not speculate about whether the team would eat some of Young's salary, and he said he expects "proper compensation" for his third baseman according to Andro and Renck (Twitter links).

This is not the first time Young has requested a trade from the Rangers. He did so before the 2009 season, after the club asked him to play third base in deference to Elvis Andrus. Obviously nothing came of that, but Young still had a clearly defined role with the team back then. Now he's expected to be a part-time infielder and part-time DH with Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli on board.

Young, 34, has been mentioned in trade talk all winter, most notably with the Rockies. He was said to have "grown disillusioned about his diminished role" over the weekend, and we heard that Colorado would need Texas to eat about $20MM of the $48MM left on Young's salary to make a deal happen.

Young has a limited no-trade clause that allows him to block deals to all but eight teams, however Colorado is one of the eight. Ryan says that Young will not expand the list of teams he's willing to go to even though some of the clubs on the no-trade list have expressed interest in acquiring him according to Renck and Andro (all Twitter links). Daniels would not specify which teams have inquired about Young.

If Texas was willing to trade within the division, they might find suitors in the Angels and Athletics, though that is speculation on my part. Both clubs whiffed on Beltre and are known to be seeking upgrades at the hot corner. Colorado would use Young at second base full-time.

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