Michael Young Requested Trade From Rangers

Why don't the Reds offer Homer Baily and Edwin Encarnacion?

"Why don't the Reds offer Homer Baily and Edwin Encarnacion?"

Because Michael Young is a salary dump and should not require anything of value to acquire. And Homer Bailey and EE have PLENTY of value.

JFossick,

Have you actually looked at his last three seasons, or are you just remembering 2004-2006?

He is a very bad defensive shortstop whose offensive production was below league-average last season, and has steadily declined. He's also making $16M per season. The Red Sox could conceivably match his 2008 production with Lowrie, and at a fraction of the cost.

I think Young's contract looks like more of an albatross than Todd Helton's did two years ago.

Sox should offer Jermaine Dye and Josh Fields for Young, then sign an OF.

Young doesn't have solid numbers anymore. He's no longer a major offensive threat at the shortstop position. He's declining quite steadily, and his contract is absurd.

$16MM per year over the next five years is a lot for a shortstop who's going to be 37 by the time his contract is up, and can't even post a decent OPS anymore.

Over the past 4 seasons, Young's OPS has dropped from .899 to .814 to .784 to .741... that's 15 points higher than Nick Punto's last year.

Young isn't going to be worth a fraction of what he's getting paid in two years.

look at his offense again. 08 was his worst season in the last 6 years or so. donuts

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Young_(baseball)#Statistics

Dunkin,

Can you explain how he is a poor defensive shortstop if he was just awarded a gold glove? I'm not that familiar with his play since at most I only see him playing in six games a year. Last I checked that was given to the top defender at the position.

geez jeff levy get a clue anyone that knows baseball knows that was a joke.

"Dunkin,

Can you explain how he is a poor defensive shortstop if he was just awarded a gold glove?"

I could probably spend a while answering this, but the short answer is that Gold Glove voters would select a quadraplegic chimpanzee as the best shortstop if they thought it was trendy. Voters vote for baseball awards the way the general public mindlessly votes for U.S. senators. They don't validate anything except good press and even better lobbying.

Looking at my name, u can definitely tell I am a huge Mike Young fan...

But i can definitely agree he is nowhere near 16 mill a year...

It's weird because this sounds nothing like Michael...from what I've seen over his career he has been the farthest from selfish and has wanted to be a Ranger for life...

All this aside, his defense is not good but there are still not many shorstops in the league that are better than him...

His quiet leadership in Texas is astoundingly great and he is always easy going and getting along well with the team...

I would love to see him traded for some great young players, but it doesnt seem very likely at this point...

And Edwin Encarnacion and Homer Bailey would not do it for the Rangers..they would have to get a better pitcher than Homer Bailey...he is good, but simply doesnt cut it...

The Rangers have to get a star pitcher in return or a trade wont b done..hands down...this is the Texas Rangers after all...

The only problem is when Elvis Andrus is actually ready...maybe the Rangers can convince him to move back to 2nd base and move Kinsler to 3rd...or maybe he will move to 3rd in a year or 2...

this is terrible news, but hopefully Mike Young will get over this...or maybe the Rangers just asked him to move once and this is no big deal after all...

@MYoung10:

I don't see how you can expect Bailey or even more for Young. Young has negative value.

No, I appreciate it.

And Edwin Encarnacion and Homer Bailey do not have that much value. Baileys stock has falled because he has Rich Hill-itis. Hes a headcase, and EE is a below average 3B who fails to put the bat on the ball. Yes both are young and have potential, but to say they have plenty of value is a stretch.

"And Edwin Encarnacion and Homer Bailey do not have that much value. Baileys stock has falled because he has Rich Hill-itis. Hes a headcase, and EE is a below average 3B who fails to put the bat on the ball. Yes both are young and have potential, but to say they have plenty of value is a stretch."

But Young has negative value. Little value>Zero value

"look at his offense again. 08 was his worst season in the last 6 years or so. donuts

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Young_(baseball)#Statistics"

Yes, I double-checked his statistics before I posted. Pointing out that his most recent season was also his worst in the last 6 years or so doesn't help your cause, particularly when it represents the latest entry in a steady decline. I understand that most people look at batting averages and assume a player is good (this is why many people still think Ivan Rodriguez is a decent player). It just isn't so.

supermets...

his trade value is definitely down, but still very good...

The rangers could get at least a player like Bucholz for Mike Young...

the main thing is that they have to get a pitcher in return...regardless of whether or not they get a 3rd baseman or not...

the only way i see them not getting a very good young pitcher back is if the situation gets so bad that they basically have to get rid of him...

thanx for the response supermets...

MYoung10 is right, it's not like michael is some total spare. Yes his numbers were down last year but he was playing with injuries including 2 broken fingers at one point. As a ranger fan its obvious he's not worth what he's being paid right now, but he's still a valuable team player. To say that the mets wouldn't do mike young for luis castillo is stupid.

And this will probably be my last comment because i can't even stand to see all these lame ass red sox fans come in on EVERY rumor and have some sort of julio lugo/michael bowden deal for ANYONE rumored. Why do you think the rangers or anyone else would want that wife beating spare lugo?

the Rangers aren't in a position of strength to demand someone like Buch because of Young's big contract and declining abilities. I do wonder though if the Sox can pull something off like Lowrie/Bard + full salary relief for Young/Salty. I may be way off, but just a thought.

Utley is not a better defender than Phillips. He has a better bat, but he's not a better defender.

"Utley is not a better defender than Phillips."

Yes, he is.

No, the Rangers couldn't get a pitcher like Clay Buchholz for Michael Young. Michael Young is due $80m over the next 5 years (through age 37). That makes what's left of Todd Helton's contract seem tolerable in comparison. Michael Young has negative trade value. Had the Rangers not overpaid him with the extension they signed him to, this wouldn't be the case. The Rangers would not get a top (pitching) prospect in return unless they ate some of the contract or packaged him with valuable player(s) to make him seem more attractive. You don't get talent back for financial burdens without eating crow. The Rangers need to shed salary and can't afford to give up prospects of value to their team in order to move him. Expect Michael Young to still be in a Rangers uniform next year.

Knowing Mike Young, in the end he will probably move to 3rd for the good of the team...he is a team player and realizes what it takes to win...

Young has no trade value because his stats do not= 16 mil and plus teams know Young wants out so there should be nothing offered back.

Bob - taking Young's salary and tossing some sort of mid level arm like Carter/Marquez would be an overpay but would more than likely get it done.

Straight up for Luis Castillo.

Only in my dreams, I know.

If Daniels could get about 7mil a year knocked off by ownership that would be a very nice deal for someone..
8 million for Micheal Young to play second is not too shabby.
Whoever said Young could possibly turn into Manny, that is a huge slap in Young's face.

I have to repeat some things

1) Despite what his contract reads as, he has 5 years 12 million per left after bonuses paid. Its not 16 per.

2) He played through 2 broken fingers last year during which his numbers plummeted. Not a coincidence.

I think a team with a 2b opening would be the best place for young.

Ozzie Guillen masturbates to dreams of Michael Young.

Have fun with that mental image.

"Utley is not a better defender than Phillips."

I'm a Mets fan and Utley is a better defender.

Ozzie can masturbate to his hearts content. KW will not spend one second thinking about Young and his ridiculous contract. Bob Loblaw are u freaking high?

Michael young seemed pissed . When texas cant move young because of his contract. young will just go over to 3b

Maybe Beane could get interested at 5/40??? Though even at 8M per year, 5 years for a 32 year old SS is just silly.

The Rangers are stuck with Young unless he has a big year.

Though the way this offseason is progressing, any GM with a bad contract should be fired if they don't at least give Dayton Moore a call.

The Royals would gladly ship Jose Guillen for Michael Young.

That should have read strong defensive 2B and 3B.

If im the Royals I jump on this.
Move Aviles to 2B.

Think about this
(L)Dejesus (LF)
(R)Aviles (2B)
(L)Gordon (3B)
(R)Guillen (RF)
(L)Jacobs (1B/DH)
(R)Young (SS)
(S)Crisp (CF)
(R)Butler(DH/1B)
(C) Buck/Olivo..does it matter?

That certainly would be an intriguing team. Royals would never have the pitching to survive a full season yet but I'd feel decent throwing that lineup out there.
Love the L,R,L,R,L,R,S,R lineup that I created as well.
*Dejesus and Aviles create havoc at the top.
*You hope Gordon finally makes the jump to stardom. -He will certainly have opportunities batting behind double trouble(jesus, Aviles)-

Guillen, Jacobs, Young would make for a decent 4,5,6 as well.
*Only real slow guy to bat yet is Jacobs.
Im not a fan of crisp but he was respectable, not a bad bottom of the order guy.
*I see potential in Butler and the bottom of the order is the perfect place to put him where he won't feel immediate pressure.
As for Buck/Olivo I have no real comments on them..they hit occasional HR's..just work on the pitching.

Anyone care to assess?

It would be expected for a 32 to start to decline but I don'r see a huge fall off in his offensive numbers other than his Hrs and Bavg which were down from 07. Maybe this begs the question:

With SS being a position where offense is a premium, if you're willing to accept avg to slightly below avg range then , assuming last year was just a down year, would a line like .300/.350 w/ 15 hrs be acceptable if Texas were willing to pay 3-5 mil a year of his salary in a trade?

Why on earth would the Royals want Young at 12M? Aviles at SS is great value.. What are you proposing they give up?

Could be a solid pick-up for the Padres if the Rangers picked up, say, $30MM of his salary. In return, the Padres could give up some quality players in Kevin Kouzmanoff and Cla Meredith.

Bucholtz or Bowden, and Lugo to detroit for cabrera

then Bucholtz or bowden and lowell for young everyones happy

Texas fans here expecting a Bucholz/Bowden type prospect for a grossly overpaid Young are just like Rangers ownership expecting a Bucholz/Bowden type starting pitcher prospect for a catching prospect and also the reson that the Rangers are doomed to be fighting it out with the Mariners for last place in 2009.. Worst pitching in the AL and counting on ML pitchers that all are at AA or lower, none of which (Gabbard excluded) are young and at ML level and a team full of salary dumps in Padilla, Millwood, Young and when they have a chance to help themselves with another team's top prospects such as a Bucholz, Hughes, Bowden by possibly adding something to a Salty, or Teagarden deal and improve the pathetic staff that they have, they shut right down.

Johns-

Eric Hurley and Matt Harrison are young and at the mlb level and made several appearences on BA's top 100. And looked good at times in their rookie year.

Feliz/Harrison should make an appearence this year.. not exactly low A ballers anymore, top prospects move fast.

Salty was a top prospect they arn't all that inclined to move now that laird is gone. Just because it would take bucholz to get them to trade him doesnt mean they ever expected to get bucholz. They don't need to accept some scrub just because they have two long term catcher (noone REALLY thinks max ramirez is satying at catcher).

The rangers have the #1 farm system in baseball and its not like theyve been losing 100 games the past 5 years. Their franchise obviously has no significant success, but its in a decent position right now for future success.

damian,

The Rangers indeed do have a good farm system, but many of those prospects are deep down and not expected to help this coming season. personally, I don't care if they sit on 3 catchers or not and maintain the 6.00 ERA pitching staff in 2009 season, as a Sox fan I would prefer to see whether or not Bucholz or Bowden will develop into the top starter for the red Sox and not someone else as Gabbard has developed on the Rangers staff already and wait for one of the younger catchers the sox have down low in the minors to hopefully develop.

I just do not see why a team will doom itself like this when they obviously are in such dire need of a starter and can (from all reports) receive a Bowden)for example, who has dominated at every level, had a excellent game in his sole MLB start, yet hold onto 3 catchers and doom themselves to another season of oblivion without even trying from a team's entire fan base.

I think the problem is the as good as people think Bowden is, he might have a hard time breaking the Texas to 5 in pitching prospects.

Hollan, Feliz, Main, Perez and then a choice between Beavan, Kiker, Poveda, Hunter etc...

Bowden has the potential to be a really good #3 starter, or at best an OK #2. Texas has a minor league system filled with guys that could be a #3 starter. That is why they want guys with front of the rotation stuff.

Young is pretty much gone from his other comments in the Dallas Morning News.

As far as the Ranger rotation, they do have more than enough young guys to keep throwing out there, which in the past was not the case. Youth has replaced a constant stream of retreds, and yet people want to complain that they want to play the young guys to try to get them all to be ready by 2010?

Sox need to grow a pair and work a trade out with the Rangers. If they could possibly pull a trade involving Teagarden and Young they would be in great shape. Teagarden is more important though. If the Sox truly are refusing to trade Buccholz for Teagarden they are morons. Buccholz got absolutely rocked every time he stepped on the mound last year. The Sox should get something of value for him before everyone in the league realizes that he is a middle reliever and will never be an ace.

So many extreme positions here. No, Michael Young is no Hanley Ramirez or even Derek Jeter. But he isn't a "salary dump" either, and he does have value on the market. He showed his tenacity and team-first attitude last season when he played through broken fingers, which resulted in a down season stats-wise. Most players would have gladly taken a couple of months off for his injury. Let's hope he continues that attitude by reassessing the situation and agreeing to move to third for the good of the team. If not, and they have to trade him, he will not be given away. God, I can't imagine him playing in any other uniform.

And it makes me pretty sick to read all these Red Sox and Yankees trolls on this board with their arrogance, thinking that their teams can just swoop in and gobble up any player they want without having to pay anything in return. If that's really the case, then so much the worse for baseball.

No one is questioning that he is a above average overall SS J the Dizzolla and that he could help the majority of teams in all of MLB. The fact that he is owed 80 million dollars on a contract that runs from 2009-2013 for a SS that can project to a being generous .290/15/85 over the next 3 seasons and then will be 36 years old and dropping off more than that for the final 2 seasons of his contract, just seems like a salary dump in most cases. Consider him to a Todd Helton type and how hard Colorodo tried to trade him before they won the WS from his massive contract and ages being the same, along with production and both having the same good glove, though at different positions. It just does not seem to make good sense to give up top prospects and pay top dollar for a 33 year old SS (in 2009) that has 6 years remaining on a 80 million dollar contract, which is more than all but Jeter I believe currently even make annually to put it into even more perspective.

I have nothing personally against the guy, he is a good hitter now, just the overall cost/benefit of acquiring him without even giving up a prospect seems extensive.

BTW, just read in the Dallas Morning News that if they trade Young they are looking to get a third baseman. Good luck with that.

Lugo is 100% certifiably untradeable RedSoxDynasty. Detroit wouldn't even exchange The awful Willis and Robertson contracts for him and can you blame them? Who wants a SS that can't field + who whenever he does hit it's always in a garbage time situation?

"Lugo is 100% certifiably untradeable RedSoxDynasty. Detroit wouldn't even exchange The awful Willis and Robertson contracts for him and can you blame them? Who wants a SS that can't field + who whenever he does hit it's always in a garbage time situation?"

Posted by: johns | January 12, 2009 at 06:53 AM

Johns,
While I am inclined to agree with you that Lugo is untradeable, if there was one trade possibility for Lugo it would probably be for Young (or insert another terrible contract with a ton of time remaining).

Robertson/Willis were a lot closer to equally bad contracts; both in terms of dollars/length. So this is a bad comparison for Youngs contract situation.

The Rangers are trying to clear payroll and the payroll swing here would be substantial. Lugo is owed just $18 for 2 years while Young is owed a completely stupid $80 million for the next 5. Total savings for the Rangers if they made this deal would be $62 Million....

Personally, even if the Rangers offered Young for Lugo straight up I doubt the Red Sox would be interested.

Lugo sucks but I'd rather have him for the next 2 years riding the bench then compounding 1 mistake with another and being stuck with a declining defensive SS for the next 5 years at $80 million.

To put it in perspective, if Young was on the Red Sox he would be the highest paid player on the team and signed for the longest amount of time. No way that guy deserves to be the highest paid player on the team and no way the Sox would decide to invest that much length into Young either.

As far as 3rd baseman are concerned, Ty Wiggington would seem a fit if they can get him. Sure, he will be 32 years old, but this guy can really, really hit and is one of my personal favorites from the time he spent here in Tampa. His glove/range at 3B may not be the greatest, but it's adequate and as badly as the Twinkies need a third baseman, they seem to be wasting time and avoiding this guy who could probably hit 20+ HR's at Arlington for several more years if they can get him to come off the nearly 10 million dollar salary he made this past season in Houston.