From Smoke to Fire, via Tweet
Prashanth FrancisIt looks like those who just want something to happen with the Michael Young trade drama are likely to get their wish. For a moment, it looked like there was some cold water thrown on the situation:
@SI_JonHeyman
Jon Heyman
vladdy’s $8-mil #orioles deal likely puts an end to any more michael young trade talk. #rangers absolutely need young.
But there seems to be a quickly growing number of people who think that Young will be traded sooner, rather than later.
benandskin Ben Rogers by lonestarball
After doing some digging (after more unavoidable MY trade smoke) starting to feel like Young’s departure is approaching inevitable territory
And:
TroyRenck, Rockies
Here’s why think Young deal will happen w Rox or someone else. There’s motivation from a lot of parties. That’s when trades get done
And:
Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal
Source: #Rangers talking only to #Rockies about Young. 2nd source: Deal could come as soon as Mon. More: http://tinyurl.com/6e8x5y6 #MLB
And, finally:
VictorRojas29 Victor Rojas
@Ken_Rosenthal wouldn’t surprise me if deal is done today or tomorrow…from what I’ve heard, it’s happening. #txrangers
It looks like not only is this happening, it's happening now.
Reader Comments (60)
@Joe
I think winning cures all ails. This is a talented team in a weak division... veteran leadership is more valuable in the face of adversity than when the ship is sailing smoothly.
And you don't know who might step up if needed. Any one of the guys you've written off could step up and surprise you. Especially Beltre... he's a long time vet and while he is replacing Young at 3B, I don't think that makes him lose credibility. He has a strong reputation as a good clubhouse guy.
And while it's impossible to quantify the impact to the winning percentage based on "leadership" there is probably some impact.
But having a more productive player and a stronger defense likely outweighs that from a winning percentage standpoint.
There has never been a player I valued more than the team itself. If this is what's best for the Rangers to win, then so be it.
@Pull T~ Right now Mikey is unhappy and basically mentally pounding on JD's desk.
Sure it's a money thing, but do you want a 'what about me' attitude in spring training?
It's becoming a push/pull scenario. It's not a win-win situation, if he wants out. He's
been stroked. "Straw that stirs the drink",.. "OUR opening day DH', says RW and NR.
There lies the crux...$48mm bag of unhappy to lead your 2011 Rangers?
I still don't see how moving MY for what is in discussion makes TEX better on the field in 2011.
HubZ, Isn't situational hitting the main reason Young has lasted as long as he has? I certainly don't disagree that clutch performances from one individual lead to clutch performs by others. But Young has been that spark for the better part of a decade and while his numbers were down this past year I believe significant time at DH will improve his performance at the plate in 2011. Is it going to 16 million worth of production? Probably not but his proven ability to come up with a clutch performance has to be worth something. Fangraphs has Young's value at around 10 million simply based on production. Leadership is worth something, perhaps not 6 million but it still has some value.
Just to be clear Pull T I agree with your assessment which has been the main reason why I am against trading MY. IMO it would be difficult if not impossible to get fair value in return which makes it more reasonable to keep MY than trade him.
Anyone know anything about Jose Lopez's defense at 2B or 3B? From the looks of things, if he's healthy, his bat is probably as good as Young's, maybe more power.
I do not think that people here are aware just how easy it is for a team to fall apart under pressure from mlb competition day in and day out.
As a Ranger fan since the day they announced the move from Washington -- yeah, I get how a team can fold. Oddly enough, that includes being a Ranger fan since the day they signed Mike Young -- yeah, I get how a team can fold. Let's not impute magical properties to Mike. He's had a great career in Texas, but I'd rather have the salary room to get the next Cliff Lee to wander down the pike, and see some more November baseball.
And it it all turns into an Albertson's bag full of dog poop...well, I'm pretty sure I'll still be a Rangers fan. I've got a lot of practice with that bag of poop.
I can see getting out from under the contract would help long term, there is no question that if young is traded the team will take a step back this year. There is no one on the market that could replace him in the lineup. Also no one that the Rockies will offer would take his spot. With what the team would have without young could still be decent with Napoli & Murphy at DH, but if anyone gets hurt for a long period of time they are in bad shape! It also makes no sense to pay young to play for the Rockies unless he has asked to be traded then it is all different. I read today from a Rockies beat writer that he had a Rockies source that said the rangers would have to pay over 20 million of young's contract. Ate y'all ready to do that? I think not. The same Rockies source said there has been no contact from the rangers so I guess we can believe a Rockies beat writer or some national diva like Ken rosenthal.
I guess we can believe a Rockies beat writer or some national diva like Ken rosenthal.
I'd recommend not believing either one of them.
Not saying his word is law, but Ken Rosenthal is one of the most credible reporters today.
Not that bras really cares but has MY made any comments about how he feels about a trade? He has done everything that this team has asked him to do and without complaints. AB is a ranger because MY agreed to change yet again. All for the better of the team. In a world of "me first" mentality among players, we need more like MY. He is not a liability as a hitter and DH is perfect for him. We could use him as a team leader and as a great hitter. I know that he makes a ton of money, money that he earned years ago and is just now getting paid. If we can't keep MY and sign the other players to long term deals, then the new ownerships pockets are to shallow.
I believe that if we trade MY after all the sacrifice that he has made for this team sends the wrong message to the rest of the team. To me it says, "we will use you as long as you meet our needs and when you don't, we will trade you.
MY has earned the right to retire as a Ranger and I will be very disappointed if he is ever traded.