Michael Young demands trade, Rangers exploring options

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3826455

 

The Texas Rangers are exploring trade options for five-time All-Star shortstop Michael Young at the player's request after he became upset about the team's plan to move him to third base.

 

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Sunday night during a hastily called conference call that the team has looked into trade possibilities but remains hopeful Young will remain in Texas.

 

"Our desire is for Michael to play third base," Daniels said. "Obviously though, he's got to buy into what we're doing."

 

The Rangers would like to move Young to third to make room for highly touted prospect Elvis Andrus at shortstop. The 20-year-old Andrus came to Texas in July 2007 in the trade that sent Mark Teixeira to Atlanta.

 

Daniels said he and manager Ron Washington met with the 32-year-old Young last month about the direction of the team and moving to third base.

 

"Reluctant, reluctant," Daniels said, describing Young's reaction. "He explained to us that he's worked extremely hard to make himself a shortstop. Obviously in 2004, he volunteered to move from second base to shortstop. That kind of shows the team-first character that has been a stable of his personality and really has made himself an outstanding player."

 

 

I wonder if Theo would explore a package deal with Texas for both Young and a catcher (preferably Teagarden or Ramirez). I know we don't need Young right now, but its an interesting prospect to get another hitter for the lineup, put either Young or Pedy in the leadoff spot, move Ellsbury down to #9, and fill the catcher role.

 

 

Severely doubt that its even talked about, but you never know.

[jacksonianmarch]

Michael Young and Derek Jeter are very similar players. High BA, good doubles, high run scored guys. But they share one other thing. Their defense is just awful. Both have good hands to handle the routine plays but their range makes them liabilities at the SS position. Both should be either second basemen or third basemen.

[riverside sluggers]

Too expensive IMO, it is a nice thought. The Sox are in talks with the D-Backs for Montero and could cost at least 2 of their top pitching prospects

[BSN07]

I agree it's a nice thought. But his D is suspect at best.

 

 

If it was a total steal propsect wise I would also consider it. There's only a handful of teams that could take on that $. This going public doesn't help there cause either.

[diony]

Young is awful, the Sox should stay away.

[BSN07]

Ya his new deal kicks in this year. 16M per for the next 5 years. Pass......

 

 

If there looking to package players, they can send Hamilton and a Catcher north:lol:

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Haha didn't know about his new deal.

 

 

 

Something tells me he's doomed. No team in their right mind would take on that money for a player that just makes contact... but who doesn't have top-flight HR power, and who's slow as s***.

 

 

Maybe the Yankees will swing a midseason trade for him if Hanky wets himself once he sees that his Yankees are just par with the competition. I can only hope.

[BSN07]

Michael Young's trade request is the hot topic this morning. Young, 32, is owed $62MM over the next five seasons (some of it deferred) and controls his fate with his full no-trade clause. He's submitted a (small) list of teams to which he'd accept a trade to Rangers GM Jon Daniels, and we don't know who's on it. Ken Rosenthal says the Rangers want a young third baseman in any deal. Young is willing to consider playing second base if he's dealt

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

He'll play second base, but not third. Okay.

[BSN07]

The Brewers will say Prince Fielder is not available, but could they be overwhelmed with a package of young players? One AL talent evaluator said, "He makes a lot of sense for Boston. They need a big bat in the lineup, it would combat what the Yankees have done with Mark Teixeira. They could go to their Teixeira plan of moving [Kevin] Youkilis to third and trading Mike Lowell. In this type of package, you can start with Clay Buchholz and go from there

 

 

 

Here's an idea to throw around.

 

Sox get- Fielder, Hardy

Texas get- Lowrie, Lowell, Alamanza(young 3B prospect they want in any deal), SP prospect(lower level like Hadagone or someone)

Brewers get- Young(2B )+some $, MDC, SP prospect, OF prospect

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Aren't the Brewers trying to shed payroll? Acquiring Young pretty much sets that up in flames. Plus I doubt the Sox get two great players in the same trade from one team, while only giving up two pitching and two position prospects.

[BSN07]

He's owed 62M over the next 5 years. With 15M more deferred. If Texas picks up 15M it's not too bad.

 

 

Fielder is due a huge raise. He will be approaching Howard type figures soon.The Brewers have a legit SS prospect ready to take over. So in a sense Hardy can be considered expendable. Plus the Brewers will be saving money by not going to arb or having to extend either player. While getting cost controled years from the SP.

 

 

The Sox can always throw some money one way or the other to make it work.

[jacksonianmarch]

Here's an idea to throw around.

 

Sox get- Fielder, Hardy

Texas get- Lowrie, Lowell, Alamanza(young 3B prospect they want in any deal), SP prospect(lower level like Hadagone or someone)

Brewers get- Young(2B )+some $, MDC, SP prospect, OF prospect

 

the only way the brewers deal fielder and hardy is if they are in full out rebuild mode and getting an older, overpaid SS in the deal doesnt help them at all

[BSN07]

the only way the brewers deal fielder and hardy is if they are in full out rebuild mode and getting an older' date=' overpaid SS in the deal doesnt help them at all[/quote']

 

They have a SS to replace Hardy. Young replaces Weeks. If Texas picks up 15M, then the Brewers are on the hook for 10M a season for Young. Which isn't as outrageous as you try to make it seem. They can sign a 1B. Maybe Dunn perhaps. Rosenthaul showed that there production is similar and can be had for less $. They get a top pitching prospect to add to there rotation. Plus add a hard throwing set up man to the back end of there BP.

 

 

Just because they trade both doesn't mean they have to rebuild.

[a700hitter]

I think Young would be a great addition at SS.

[jacksonianmarch]

so they would trade two young, high impact offensive players who are under control for a few more yrs for an old, overpaid, significantly overpriced player and they'd refill the other spot with a rookie? Thats stupid

[BSN07]

Hardy is in the last year of arbitration will require a new deal. I would imagine it will be close to Young's deal.

 

Fielder will be approaching 10M+ a season, all the way until he hits FA.

 

 

Young is twice the hitter as Weeks.

 

Dunn and Fielder produce at comparable rates. And Dunn will most likely cost less $ and yr wise.

 

And they add Buchholz to the roation and MDC to the BP.

 

Also adding a cost controlled OF in the process as well.

 

 

 

The team can trade those offensive pieces and still be a contending team within their division, while probably saving in payroll. It doesn't seem too stupid.

[redsoxrules]

Michael Young and Derek Jeter are very similar players. High BA' date=' good doubles, high run scored guys. But they share one other thing. Their defense is just awful. Both have good hands to handle the routine plays but their range makes them liabilities at the SS position. Both should be either second basemen or third basemen.[/quote']

 

Young is much better than Jeter at fielding

[redsoxrules]

Young is awful' date=' the Sox should stay away.[/quote']

 

and paying Lugo 10 MIL a year is better ?

 

Young is much better than what we have now at SS

[diony]

and paying Lugo 10 MIL a year is better ?

 

Young is much better than what we have now at SS

 

Just because Lugo is worst that doesn't makes Young a good option.

 

Young's OPS last 4 seasons

 

2005: .899

2006: .814

2007: .783

2008: .741

 

2008 Home/Away splits

 

Home: .305/.362/.441

Away: .264/.317/.364

 

Career Home/Away splits

 

Home: .322/.369/.441

Away: .279/.323/.404

 

Using Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR), one of the best defensive metric out there. Let's compare him with Jeter, just so everyone has an idea.

 

Young: -3.7

Jeter: -0.5

 

Even Jeter was better than him last year defensively (and offensively, but that's not the point). And that's the guy you want to give a $16 mill AAV for the following 5 years? Oh great.

[example1]

Just because Lugo is worst that doesn't makes Young a good option.

 

Young's OPS last 4 seasons

 

2005: .899

2006: .814

2007: .783

2008: .741

 

2008 Home/Away splits

 

Home: .305/.362/.441

Away: .264/.317/.364

 

Career Home/Away splits

 

Home: .322/.369/.441

Away: .279/.323/.404

 

Using Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR), one of the best defensive metric out there. Let's compare him with Jeter, just so everyone has an idea.

 

Young: -3.7

Jeter: -0.5

 

Even Jeter was better than him last year defensively (and offensively, but that's not the point). And that's the guy you want to give a $16 mill AAV for the following 5 years? Oh great.

 

 

According to WARP Young was in the top 40 of all players last year. The list from 31:

Sizemore

Markakis

Hamilton

Young

Longoria

A. Gonzalez

 

He was 104th the year before, tied with Tek and Arroyo, and directly ahead of Abreu, Pence, and Morneau.

 

I'm not saying he's the second-coming, but apparently he isn't as awful as many would like to make him out to be. I don't understand how he ended up at 34th in 2008, but that's what the WARP #'s say.

[26 to 6]

Michael Young and Derek Jeter are very similar players. High BA' date=' good doubles, high run scored guys. But they share one other thing. Their defense is just awful. Both have good hands to handle the routine plays but their range makes them liabilities at the SS position. Both should be either second basemen or third basemen.[/quote']

You realzie Michael Young is the defending Gold Glove winner at SS, right? I'm not saying he's Ozzie Smith or anything, but he'll do a serviceable job.

 

I like Young a lot, hopefully he ends up somewhere that he can help contribute to a championship effort. The Mets maybe? There were whispers about a month ago that they would consider him for second base if he were willing.

[Keeper]

and paying Lugo 10 MIL a year is better ?

 

Young is much better than what we have now at SS

 

Exactly. He would be an enormous upgrade. I don't know why he's getting so much hate on this board. Before '08, he had 5 seasons in a row with over 200 hits and a .300+ average.

 

The guy's also durable. Doesn't miss more than 5 games a year. Granted, the numbers might be a little inflated because he plays in Texas, but it's not like Fenway is a pitcher's park.

[thatswhatshesaid]

ok, brewers will not give up fielder till next year... they've come out and promised that

young contract is looking scary right now and lugo's is not much better

I like lowrie, but don't know how that is going to work out...

 

btw, scott boras should contract a disease

[Cocos Disciples]

Pass.

[redsoxrules]

Just because Lugo is worst that doesn't makes Young a good option.

 

Young's OPS last 4 seasons

 

2005: .899

2006: .814

2007: .783

2008: .741

 

2008 Home/Away splits

 

Home: .305/.362/.441

Away: .264/.317/.364

 

Career Home/Away splits

 

Home: .322/.369/.441

Away: .279/.323/.404

 

Using Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR), one of the best defensive metric out there. Let's compare him with Jeter, just so everyone has an idea.

 

Young: -3.7

Jeter: -0.5

 

Even Jeter was better than him last year defensively (and offensively, but that's not the point). And that's the guy you want to give a $16 mill AAV for the following 5 years? Oh great.

 

 

Young had an off year last year due to injuries , otherwise he'll give you a an OPS around 850 , 200+ hits and great D

 

his D is underated , he led the AL laster year in ZR at 850 and won GG witch he deserved

 

I know the Sox FO wont make a run at him , but I would be excited to have him on the Sox

[Cocos Disciples]

His last three OPS's: .815, .784, .741.

[Dipre]

I think Young would be a great addition at SS.

 

Not really.

 

He's an awful SS and at $62/5 , his contact bat and awful defense are both no-nos

[example1]

Let's not be confused here: Young is a valuable player. His WARP has been good over the past 3 years. He's just not a 15m a year player when Lowrie can provide 80% at much lower cost

[redsoxrules]

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers find themselves in a difficult situation with fewer than five weeks until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training.

Their most prominent player and team leader is quite unhappy about being asked to switch positions.

 

General manager Jon Daniels is quite aware of the situation but still believes it can be resolved and Michael Young will be with the Rangers in 2009.

 

"I still believe there is a likelihood that we can come together on this and put it behind us," Daniels said Monday morning. "We want to have further discussions with Mike and talk to him about it. We're all preparing for Michael to be an integral part of our team going forward. That's how we're preparing and that's my expectations."

 

But Daniels is also clear about where he wants Young to play in 2009.

 

"We're preparing for him to play third base," Daniels said. "We'll have further discussions with Michael, but we feel this is in the best interests of the club."