Michael Young will be transitioning into a new role this season, but he won't be changing teams before the 2011 campaign begins. Young told Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he has been told he won't be traded before the season starts (Twitter link). Adrian Beltre's arrival in Texas means Young won't be the everyday third baseman, but the Rangers still have room for him.
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported earlier today that Young will work out at first, second, third and short in preparation for the upcoming season. However, he will not play in the outfield. Young, 34, has not played short since 2008 or second base since 2003. He has never played first base or outfield in the majors and will likely DH regularly this year.
If the Rangers don't trade Young by May, they'll need his approval to finalize a deal. Young now has no-trade protection and his ten and five rights take effect this May. The Rangers would likely have to take on a significant portion of the $48MM remaining on Young's contract through 2013 if they decide to trade him.
Great news for the offense at least.
So, why does Texas hate Michael Young?
They’re paying him $16M… if that’s hate then I have no clue what love is.
I think he was referring to the fans and not the executives who gave Young the contract.
Hey Purple, I’ll let you hate me for $16M.
because he has done nothing but piss and moan since changing positions after the arod-soriano trade, and he probably was complaining about arod going there. He is a mediocre defender all over the diamond. hits for a good average but hardly any power does not steal bases anymore and his range is worse and worse oh and he is paid 16 mill…16 mill for a DH you better be able to put up a .310/.400/.800..minimum slash line with 45+ hrs and 30 steals..but he wont do anything close to that…and yes fans can be upset about a players contract..when a player does not play to the value of his contract its the fans that pay for it in ticket prices
30 steals for a DH and 45+ homeruns? Maybe your standards are set a little too high…
first things first i was not serious at all and secondly at 16 mill for a DH yeah i would want my team to have a guy that puts up those types of number
Why would a DH steal 30 bases? If you had the speed to steal 30 bases you would probably be useful as an outfielder. In today’s market a guy who can OPS a “minimum” 1.200 would cost you considerably more than $16 million, regardless of position. In fact,OPSing over 1.200 over an entire season is a feat that has been accomplished only 20 times in baseball history, and over half of those seasons belong to a player named either Ruth or Bonds. So yeah, how dare Michael Young not be one of the best hitters of all time! What a jerk!
At the time of his contract extension Young had a career .300/.346/.442/.788 line, with a 162 game average of 99 runs, 198 hits, 37 2b, 6 3b, 16 HR, 87 rbi and 10 SB. Considering he had just won a gold glove award at shortstop, this could be seen as an elite level of production. Giving Young 5 years/$80 million wasn’t a prudent move, but it wasn’t his fault that he was moved from second to short to third and now to DH, where his level of production is merely pedestrian.
Kenny Williams should inquire on Young immediately.
no……no no no no no no no no if kenny is going to spend money(assuming 8-10 mill would be left over per year after texas eats some of it) I would rather see that money go to soriano to close games and not a mediocre 3rdbasemen who does not hit for power and complains about everything…besides we havea 3rd basemen who will probably put up similar offensive numbers next season in morell and his glove is better and best of all he is MAKING LEAGUE MINIMUM!
would have been nice to see him in a blue jays uniform again
He seems like a class act. How many times has he switched positions to make way for another player?
and complained every single time about it!
So? Actions speak louder than words and he HAS switched positions for the team every time they’ve asked him to.
Like he had a choice lol.
I realize the whole thesis for this post is he staying put, but doesn’t he make sense for the Reds? I mean, the Reds won’t want to pay $48M, but if the Rangers eats some of his salary and could maybe get a good prospect in return, wouldn’t that be win-win?
My guess is you would slot him in at SS(?) That could be a good fit. The Reds are ridiculously deep w/SPs. I could see a MYoung for Bailey (TEX native) swap making sense for both teams if constructed properly.
He was an even worse SS than he is a 3B.
The last year he played SS (2008) he was a 1 dWAR. Granted he was 2 years younger…
Like it. Assuming Young can still play SS, I mean. But he would be a good addition to the offensive in that bandbox stadium.
He seems like a class act. How many times has he switched positions to make way for another player?
It really curious that you have the exact same comment as someone else a minute later. Hmmmm…….
You know what else is curious? Seedless grapes.
Michael Young a DH? I would have rather moved Young to try and acquire starting pitching and resigned Vlad to a 1 year deal.
So would the Rangers. His bloated contract kind of complicates things though.
As a Rangers fan, i could let young go for a prospect and salary relief.
Reds=Bailey for young is WIN
Good off the bench! … Oh wait … He makes $16MM … NVM!
Young for Zito………done!
Gross.