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Rangers Rumors: Manny, Sheets, Gagne, Young

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman checks in with a post on the Rangers; most of the info came up during his recent MLB Network appearance.

  • Heyman says the Rangers "are considering a pursuit" of Manny Ramirez, noting that Jon Daniels isn’t currently pursuing him but didn’t rule it out.  Heyman still considers the Dodgers and Giants the top suitors.  El Lefty Malo doesn’t seem him landing with San Francisco.
  • The Rangers maintain interest in Ben Sheets and are also considering bringing Eric Gagne back.  T.R. Sullivan also mentions Tim Redding, Chad Cordero, Jason Isringhausen, and Eddie Guardado.
  • The Rangers have received inquiries on Vicente Padilla (Braves) and Michael Young.  Young has been loosely linked to the Twins, Mets, Angels, Dodgers, and Royals.  Sullivan names Hank Blalock and Kevin Millwood as other trade candidates.

Wigginton Too Pricey For Twins?

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According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

The Twins like Ty Wigginton but believe he’s looking for a bigger contract than the three-year, $17.5 million deal the Los Angeles Dodgers gave Casey Blake. So the Twins have had little to no dialogue with Wigginton’s agent, Dan Lozano.

I had Wigginton pegged for two years and $12MM or so, but he is four years younger than Blake and outhit him in 2008 (though he had 172 fewer plate appearances and was largely aided by Minute Maid Park).  If Wiggy can really get a better contract than Blake, it would’ve made sense for the Astros to tender him a contract and then trade him.

Christensen adds that the Twins still have hope for acquiring Mark DeRosa, but talks for Garrett Atkins and Adrian Beltre hit dead ends.  Also, Jon Heyman tosses the Twins into the mix for Michael Young.  We’d previously heard about the Mets, Angels, Dodgers, and Royals discussing him.  Heyman did not find evidence talks for Young got serious with any team, though, and he wonders if Young would approve a trade to Minnesota.

In other Twins news, Christensen notes that the Twins expressed interest in free agent reliever Brandon Lyon, who seems to be waiting until Brian Fuentes signs.

Four Teams Inquire On Michael Young

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12:51pm: Joel Sherman agrees that the Mets inquired on Young.  He says the Rangers are under no pressure to move big contracts though.

12:38pm: Young is not as pricey as we thought – Ken Rosenthal says he’s already been paid $20MM in bonus money from his new deal, leaving $60MM or so over five years (Heyman said something similar).  But, Rosenthal says the Rangers are unlikely to seriously consider trading him.

11:16am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Mets, Angels, Dodgers, and Royals inquired on Young.  He says the Rangers are not shopping Young but will listen.  The Mets might have to move Luis Castillo before they could slot Young in at second base.

12:00am: Yahoo’s Tim Brown talked to an AL exec whose team is in the market for a shortstop, and learned that the Rangers are quietly shopping Michael Young.  Young’s five-year, $80MM extension will begin next year.  He’s got no-trade protection to deal with.  The Rangers would want young pitching back for Young.  It will be hard to find a team willing to take on that contract.

Odds and Ends: Ellis, Patterson, Sweeney

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Rounding up today’s links…

Dodgers Inquire On Michael Young

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From Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger:

The Dodgers continue to look everywhere for a shortstop, and tons of names have come up in connection with their search. They don’t seem likely to land the Pirates’ Jack Wilson, but they’re scouring other organizations for options, having touched base with Toronto about John McDonald, the Yankees about Alberto Gonzales, the Twins about Adam Everett and even the Rangers about Michael Young, though it’s unclear whether or why Young would be available.

Young is new to the discussion.  The 31 year-old shortstop is hitting .298/.345/.421 in 469 plate appearances this year.  He’s currently dealing with a fractured ring finger.  His five-year, $80MM extension was signed in March of ’07 but doesn’t kick in until next year.  Even if the Rangers would listen on Young, could the Dodgers take on such a contract?

Rosenthal’s Latest: Lidge, Daniel Cabrera, Bonds, Edmonds

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column up.  I put the Griffey info in a separate post; let’s discuss the rest.

  • Rosenthal suggests that Brad Lidge would be harder to replace than Pat Burrell, and for that reason the Phillies will make a bigger effort to re-sign him.  I imagine Phillies fans would prefer that course of action.  The problem?  The Phillies have little chance of offering four years, according to Jayson Stark.
  • The Rangers will face a delicate situation in coming years: moving Michael Young to a different position.  The chain reaction could make Hank Blalock available.  Blalock has a club option for ’09 at $6.2MM.
  • Aside from Rick Porcello replacing Kenny Rogers at some point, the questionable Detroit rotation is set and signed through 2010.
  • One scout seems to think Daniel Cabrera has turned the corner and shouldn’t be traded.  He’ll become a free agent after the 2010 season and earns $2.875MM this year.
  • Though it might be seen as a desperation move, the Tigers don’t have much to lose by signing Barry Bonds.  Gary Sheffield endorsed it.
  • Rosenthal says the Rays and Jays are teams with "possible interest" in Jim Edmonds but are likely to pass.  That leaves the Cubs.
  • Will Jason Giambi find a job next year after the Yankees decline his option?  He plans to try.
  • The Red Sox asked about Mark Loretta during Spring Training as "infield insurance."  Rosenthal suggests the Sox consider Omar Vizquel, a defensive upgrade over Julio Lugo.

Comparing Carlos Guillen and Michael Young

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Michael Young’s recent contract extension, which 56.6% of you liked, could inform negotiations for Carlos Guillen’s next deal.  Guillen is among the ten best free agents available after the 2007 season.

Let’s compare the two shortstops.  They have nearly identical body types, though Guillen is a year older.  Guillen’s got a touch more power; both consistently hit for a high average.  Guillen draws more walks, so he’s in better shape if the batting average starts to decline.  Both have questions about their ability to stay at shortstop in the long term.  Both are significantly underpaid this year.

The largest difference is that Young is far more durable.  That’s a huge factor.  If you factor in the health and age difference, it’s obvious Guillen should not get a five-year, $80MM deal.  The Tigers seem willing to offer a four-year extension, taking him through 2011.  Rather than Young’s $16MM AAV, Guillen should be in line for something more like $14-15MM.  He wants to stay in Detroit, so something like 4/52 might make sense.  PECOTA would support Detroit making such an offer.

What say you?  Guess the length and AAV of Guillen’s contract in today’s MLBTR poll and compare to other readers.

Michael Young Gets $80MM Deal

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Rangers shortstop Michael Young finalized his five-year, $80MM contract extension today.  The deal runs from 2009-13.

Granted, Young is a huge bargain for 2007-08.  The Rangers basically erased that advantage by overpaying him past his peak.  I will have more thoughts on this later tonight, but I have a feeling that this contract will not be well-received by analysts.

Lone Star Ball has a poll up about the signing; most Rangers fans responding feel that it is an "Okay deal for the Rangers — they overpaid, but not by enough to make it a bad deal."

Rangers Close To Michael Young Extension

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According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the Rangers are making progress on a long-term deal with shortstop Michael Young and may have something completed this week.  Young is already under contract through ’08; the extension would run through 2013, buying out five years of free agency.

The model for the contract is Chase Utley’s deal, where each potential year of free agency was worth $15MM.  Baseball Prospectus’s valuations only run through 2011, but indicate that the Rangers will come out just fine. 

Young will be locked in as the face of the franchise through age 36.  Mark Teixeira, on the other hand, will become a free agent after 2008 and is represented by Scott Boras.  The Mets could be a suitor, but the Rangers will discuss an extension with him first.

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