Michael Young Requested Trade From Rangers
9:41pm: More from Sullivan – he has quotes from Jon Daniels on Young tonight:
"We’re not looking to trade him and have no plans to. We plan on him being a big part of our ballclub going forward."
5:22pm: Another interesting update from T.R. Sullivan at MLB.com regarding the Michael Young situation.
The article focuses on Elvis Andrus‘ official invitation to Spring Training. Sullivan makes a point to clarify that the starting shortstop job is not Andrus’. Sullivan writes:
"It is also not guaranteed that Andrus will be the Opening Day shortstop. The Rangers still have Joaquin Arias as an alternative."
Wouldn’t Young, not Arias, be the next alternative? Just further affirmation of how serious the Rangers are about moving Young over to third.
2:20pm: T.R. Sullivan has new quotes from Jon Daniels. Daniels says he’s still preparing as if Young will play third base for the 2009 Rangers. Sullivan says no trade is imminent.
MONDAY, 8:35am: More on the topic of Young asking for a trade. Young is upset that he wasn’t given a choice about the position switch, saying, "My hand’s been forced with this one." He says he’s "adamant" about not playing third base. Young has given the Rangers a list of teams to which he’ll accept a trade, according to the Dallas Morning News. He’d consider a move back to second base for a new team. Young is owed $62MM over the next five seasons.
SUNDAY, 9:25pm: FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reports that Rangers shortstop Michael Young asked for a trade back in December when club officials requested that he play third base in the upcoming season.
According to Rosenthal, Young was "absolutely livid" that the Rangers would request such a move just months after he was awarded his first Gold Glove (the award was not supported by his advanced statistics). The team was hoping to clear a spot for top prospect Elvis Andrus, but now they’ve got a real problem on their hands.
GM Jon Daniels is expected to explore trade opportunities, but a deal seems unlikely at this point. White Sox GM Ken Williams has already said that he "would not waste time" discussing the possibility. The asking price would be far too high for most clubs. Other teams that have popped up in rumors this winter: the Twins, Mets, Angels, Dodgers, and Royals.
Odds and Ends: Lowell, Carroll, Saltalamacchia
Time to gather up today’s links.
- With Mike Lowell headed to the DL, Jeff Horrigan wonders if a waiver trade for an infielder could be in order.
- ESPN’s Buster Olney mentioned the Indians’ Jamey Carroll as a possibility for the D’Backs on Monday, though he noted the two teams have not talked.
- Evan Grant suggests the Rangers trade Engel Beltre or Elvis Andrus for pitching this winter. Additionally, he thinks the Rangers might end up trading Jarrod Saltalamacchia rather than Gerald Laird.
- Aaron Gleeman revisits the ’03 trade of Bobby Kielty for Shannon Stewart.
- Patrick Newman runs down some lesser-known Japanese free agents.
- Rany Jazayerli has an interesting post about Royals first base prospect Kila Kaaihue.
- Jeff Passan’s list of this year’s 25 most improbable success stories is a good read.
- MLB.com’s Justice B. Hill has a story about a kid who had Tommy John surgery at age 14.
- ESPN did a bunch of mini-features about this year’s hired guns for their magazine.
Rangers Rumors: Patterson, Bradley, Bay
T.R. Sullivan recently filed his Rangers report at MLB.com.
- The Rangers will meet with Scott Boras soon to talk about Eric Gagne.
- Another topic for the Boras conversation: Corey Patterson.
- The Rangers like Milton Bradley, and have asked for his medical reports. Bradley’s agent said a few days ago that he would be ready for Opening Day.
- The Bucs’ asking prices for Jason Bay and Nate McLouth were deemed too high – Eric Hurley and Elvis Andrus were suggested.
- External first base options: Mike Lamb, Tony Clark, and Ben Broussard.
Braves Acquire Mark Teixeira
UPDATE: ESPN adds that one of the pitching prospects is Neftali Feliz.
According to Ken Rosenthal, the deal is finally done, pending a review of medical records. The Braves will receive Mark Teixeira and lefty reliever Ron Mahay, while the Rangers will get Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, and two pitching prospects. Matt Harrison is said to be one of them; his MRI today came up clean.
I’ll have some analysis of the deal once we have all the details. Kind of makes tomorrow anticlimactic, doesn’t it?
Matt Harrison Removed From Teixeira Deal
UPDATE: Sent Bowman an email about Harrison – it was definitely supposed to be his left (pitching) shoulder. The MLB.com article has been updated.
22 year-old Double A southpaw Matt Harrison might be the Braves’ top pitching prospect, and he was part of the team’s offer for Mark Teixeira. However, Harrison is having shoulder problems and has apparently been removed from the deal. Ken Rosenthal does not indicate which shoulder, while MLB.com’s Mark Bowman repeatedly says it’s his right shoulder. Harrison is to see a doctor on Monday.
Furthermore, one source of Bowman’s thinks Harrison is still in the Braves’ offer along with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Elvis Andrus. Another source of Bowman’s believes the injury isn’t a dealbreaker.
Rosenthal, however, says the Braves gave Texas a list of pitchers to choose instead of Harrison, not including Jo-Jo Reyes. Rosenthal adds that talks are fluid and it could become a 4 for 2 deal. That might convince the Braves to part with Reyes.
Salty was the only position player not used in today’s 14-0 blowout; Brian McCann did not get relief. That decision certainly seems related to an impending trade.
Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks inquired on Teixeira and were told it would take Conor Jackson, Carlos Gonzalez, and a pitching prospect. The Dodgers have been slipping while Arizona has been playing well, and the result is a virtual tie for first place. It would be interesting if the Diamondbacks jump in and become aggressive buyers.
Angels Out On Teixeira?
According to Mike DiGiovanna and Ben Bolch of the L.A. Times, the Angels are done trying to acquire Mark Teixeira. Casey Kotchman and Joe Saunders were agreed upon. The Angels wanted the Rangers to settle on Terry Evans or Nathan Haynes as the third player. The Rangers, however, wanted one of Brandon Wood, Nick Adenhart, Howie Kendrick, and Ervin Santana.
Perhaps there is some middle ground, like a Hank Conger, Sean Rodriguez, or Erick Aybar? The L.A. Times says the door is not completely closed on Teixeira but the Angels won’t relent to Jon Daniels’ list.
Meanwhile, the L.A. Daily News sings a different tune. Doug Padilla suggests an offer of Kotchman, Adenhart, and Reggie Willits. He does not believe the talks to be dead.
Jermaine Dye or Mike Piazza look like the logical alternatives for the Angels. Buster Olney believes Piazza to be a fine idea, and I agree. Interestingly, the Angels kicked the tires of Miguel Cabrera but were rebuffed.
Teixeira may now be left to the Braves, Dodgers, and Red Sox. I still expect a deal to be made. The sticking point for an Atlanta appears to be John Schuerholz’s demand to get a solid reliever back with Teixeira if he is to include Elvis Andrus.
Braves Make Offer For Teixeira
According to Ken Rosenthal’s sources, the Braves have made an offer to the Rangers for Mark Teixeira: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Matt Harrison, and Elvis Andrus. That’s without any relievers coming back to Atlanta. That’s three young players all with a chance to become above-average big league regulars. You couldn’t really criticize Daniels for it, no matter how it turned out.
The only other major player seems to be the Angels. The Halos recently tweaked their original offer of Casey Kotchman plus Nathan Haynes or Terry Evans. There’s now a pitcher in the mix, apparently one of Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders, or Nick Adenhart. I’d consider this a comparable offer, especially if Adenhart was the one.
The Dodgers aren’t out of it, but I don’t see them getting Teixeira.
Mark Teixeira Trade Update
The Mark Teixeira talks are really heating up, with the Braves, Dodgers, Angels, Yankees, and Red Sox all involved. Ken Rosenthal has updated this column, and Evan Grant has new info as well.
The Braves still appear to be in front. The names going to Texas would include Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, and one of Matt Harrison or Kyle Davies. A very nice package, but to get three solid prospects the Rangers would have to pair Teixeira with a reliever. The Braves have their eye on Eric Gagne, C.J. Wilson, and Ron Mahay, with the latter most likely. It’s unclear whether Gagne can be traded to the Braves without his consent.
The Dodgers counter with James Loney, Andre Ethier, and a pitcher not named Clayton Kershaw.
The Angels will give Casey Kotchman as well an outfielder like Terry Evans or Nate Haynes. Kevin Goldstein considers Evans a prospect, Haynes not so much (he turns 27 soon). You may remember the Angels got Evans for Jeff Weaver last year. Rosenthal thinks the Halos will have a tougher time being a division foe, and could turn to Adam Dunn or Jermaine Dye. There’s definitely a Dodgers rivalry element in play as well.
Grant does not mention the Red Sox or Yankees. Rosenthal sees the Red Sox involved because of David Ortiz‘s knee and Kevin Youkilis‘s slump. The Yanks appear to be showing just their obligatory interest, as they seem unlikely to offer the best package.