Michael Young Goes Nuclear
Joey MatschulatAnd so it turns out that the Michael-Young-is-forcing-his-way-out theory I presented Sunday morning struck far closer to the truth than what some -- including myself -- wanted to believe, as this story has gone full-fledged nuclear in the last 24 hours, and appears to be careening towards the dissolution of a decade-long marriage between the Rangers and their putative face of the franchise. Here's the current scorecard, as of 12:30 a.m. Tuesday morning:
● The Rangers confirmed during a Monday afternoon conference call that Young had officially requested a trade (due to Young's perception that accepting a full-time designated hitter role would adversely affect his future earning potential), but emphasized that they were still hoping to mend fences, and suggested that they would only pull the trigger on a deal if it improved the 2011 ballclub; one question that was not answered was what would happen if Young remained angry with the ballclub, but was also not traded (T.R. Sullivan, MLB.com)
● Late Monday evening, Young went on the defensive, telling FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal: "The suggestion that I had a change of heart and asked for a trade is a manipulation of the truth. I asked for a trade because I've been misled and manipulated and I'm sick of it. Other than that, I'm not going to reveal any details about how this process unfolded. It's not my nature to start blasting people publicly when I don't think it's necessary. I don't think it's fair or productive for anybody, particularly my teammates and coaching staff. But at the end of the day, I know the truth. And so does JD (Jon Daniels)."
"To suggest that there was just a couple of weeks off and I had a change of heart in terms of what position I wanted to play is inaccurate. I'll be the first to admit that I was not particularly keen on the idea of being a DH. But I did agree to do it. I wanted to put the team first. I wanted to be a Ranger. But in light of events that happened in the process, I got pushed into a corner one too many times. I couldn't take it any more.
That's [referring to being moved from shortstop to third base to make room for Elvis Andrus two years ago] not going to happen again. That was about baseball. That was a situation where I looked around ... and moved on. This has been a long time coming based on things that occurred off the field. I'm sick of it. It hit a point where I felt it was unfair to me and my family. [...] Yeah, I [think a trade is going to happen.] It’s disappointing that it came to this. I would have hoped for this thing to have been hammered out behind closed doors. But in light of today's events, it wasn't going to happen."
● There are eight -- and ONLY eight -- teams to which Michael Young will accept a trade (presumably because they are the same eight teams that are absent from his limited no-trade clause, which permits him to block a trade to 22 different teams), and they are the Rockies, Astros, Angels, Padres, Dodgers, Twins, Yankees, and Cardinals; Young is currently refusing to expand the list of potential landing spots beyond those eight teams, although a later report indicated that Young would consider other teams on a "case-by-case basis" (Richard Durrett, ESPNDallas.com; Jayson Stark, ESPN.com)
Reader Comments (85)
Reality of Youngs Flip... (in)Security
OK, so JD goes and gets Beltre to replace Young. JD' pans the market
to find a bench bat as in Thome or Manny. He scores with Napoli, a DH,
1B and secondary catcher. Two positions taking away play from Young.
All these moves were done openly, but a blind man could read the script.
So what is the 'dirty little secret' Young won't expound on? "JD knows the
truth and I know...etc". Ugh, it's JD's agressive search to trade Young, when
he states to Young, he was not. Even Nolan says; "we lsiten to all inquiries"
"it's in the best interest to always try and make the team better". Even Michael
said he understands that "part of the BUSINESS". Secret? Nah, I don't think so.
Bottomline: Mike does not see himself as a DH. Panic Button~ DH= lower pay.
So much for 'team concept'. He's looking three years ahead to his next contract.
As a player, he could still command $10-15mm/y-multiple years. As a DH, we're
looking at $8mm or below... SHORT TERM. Yep, he's use to security. It's about
his future and the thought of *lower pay and *one year moving contracts at 37y/o
found the reality that hit him square in the FACE... but not the Ranger Face.
I can't blame Michael really. Though he should have taken more time and consulted
with his agent, before going "Team Player" once again, with the Beltre scenario. The
fact that his real intent... to be monetarily rewarded as a 'player' the rest of his career.
Mikes positioning his trade strength to include contending teams (but Houston, really?).
It's bad timing, concidering the 'team concept', but he woke IN the reality of his security.
Michael Young is looking out for #1... whom can blame 'the Face', once the dust settles?
It's all about his security in the future. Well's buddy deal woke him up? Let's face reality.
Flags, Rings and Fans are really 'other choices'. Go figure. Baseball: It's a frick'n business.
What a concept Ranger Fans... no surprise. I still like Mike. Always have, but Faces change.
SON OF A GUN I HATE THIS SHIT
THIS IS THE SORT OF SHIT THAT MAKES ME WANT TO THROW UP....WHAT A SHITTY WAY TO START THE SEASON.
JD HAS SHOWED POOR LEADERSHIP ALONG WITH GREENBERG.
Everyone wants to pretend that one or the other is to blame, JD or MY, but it seems like the situation is quite complex.
JD, MY, Nolan, Chuck, Get your butts in a room and sort this shit out, get a narrative together that the fans can swallow, and hold a damned press conference already whether Mr. Ranger stays or goes. People need to apologize and eat shit for the good of the organization and the fans.
I really wish I could use much stronger words. **&% $*$( $&&$ #*(( )#( .
With Mike Young demanding a trade and the Rangers limited to 8 teams. The Rangers would be forced to give him away or hope that MY will drop his trade restrictions. Maybe MY will get caught up in spring training and decide he wants to stay or just maybe if Mike Young starts the season in triple A. He just miught decide to expand his trade list or get used to riding the bus!
@Joe, as well -- I'm kind of goggling at the idea that Mike is supposed to be kept apprised of every move open to the FO.
And I'd really like to see some proof that Ryan and Wash were "trying to rein in JD." That's an assertion I haven't heard before.
I agree with utb.
All this over an average baseball player making too much money...and hit hurt feelings.
This is show business not show friends.
Scott,
I thin it is pretty obvious at this point that JD was not straight with MY in that he told him he would be the DH while all along doing things to try to get him to ask for a trade.
Why would he do this? Simple, because he didn't want to tell MY his real intentions because then he would have a PR disaster on his hands as the fans cried because MY was forced out.
But that would have been A LOT better than the PR disaster that he now has on his hands.
JD, you can NEVER NEVER NEVER have you freaking cake and eat it too. You need to go and apologize to Michael or something, eat shit, I know its a difficult situation but someone needs to eat shit and who knows maybe you need to show Chucky that you will take one for the team when that needs to be done. Seems to me that if anything can threaten your contract it is something like this, total mismangement of your biggest gig yet.
Joe
Joe,
So what exactly should JD have told MY at the time we signed Beltre? "Hey Mike, if you DH I promise to stop looking for other ways to improve this team." He didn't envision Thome being so cheap, or Napoli becoming available. According to reports, we have been after Napoli for a while. JD's job is to make the Texas Rangers better. He has done that with all of his acquisitions. What would be gained from telling MY you are trying to trade for Napoli if the trade never happened? Wouldn't MY have had the same hurt feeling? Our problem last year was depth, and we traded away a good portion of minor league depth to acquire rent-a-players like Guzman and Cantu. If MY agreed to stay we wouldn't have to worry about the depth issues. But now that he has decided he wants a trade, that is no longer an option. JD isn't being sneaky by not informing MY of every move the GM makes or even considers.
Eating shit will make you very sick.
Why in the world should JD have to tell Mike he's talking to other teams about possibly trading him? Every player on the roster should know that they could be talked about in trades. If JD tells MY hes looking to trade him and then can't get a trade partner, then he has a disgruntled player for the year.
JD's job is to improve the team. He's doing a hell of a job. It's that simple. Young isn't a great baseball player. JD owes Young nothing. Why is it that Young, "FOTF" is the guy that keeps coming public with this stuff?
Best article I've read on the subject to date: http://www.lonestarball.com/2011/2/8/1981641/dear-michael-young
Joe = Joe's sister?
@Adam
JD told him he wasn't then continued to do so. THAT IS A LIE! Which is why MY is pissed and he has a right to be.
"fair to me or my family"???? when you make $14-16MM per year, understand that you void your right to talk about whats fair...
I love MY and Ive watched him since he was a rookie, but I think its time he gets some perspective on the situation...
If you want to be a ranger....take a paycut, im sure they will keep you for $6MM per (your "fair" value) and i think your family can manage....if not then enjoy the altitude of Colorado and thanks for what you have done while you were here.
"fair to me or my family"???? when you make $14-16MM per year, understand that you void your right to talk about whats fair...
I love MY and Ive watched him since he was a rookie, but I think its time he gets some perspective on the situation...
If you want to be a ranger....take a paycut, im sure they will keep you for $6MM per (your "fair" value) and i think your family can manage....if not then enjoy the altitude of Colorado and thanks for what you have done while you were here
@Joe, I think you're making an enormous jump to a shaky conclusion, but it's unprovable either way.
Mike's tickle-tickle game is tiresome, though. Man up and spill the beans, if you're that ticked. Don't play games.
Maybe one day we'll get the full story...
Joe = Joe's sister real classy.
Dishonesty has a way of coming back and biting you in the ass.
aggiecourt is right... this is a business and JD's job is to make this team better than it was the season before.
And make no mistake about it, if MY was a free agent and told the Rangers h wanted to be here and no where else.... but a better offer came along, he would bolt in a heart beat.
MY has a habit of flip flopping with emotions... but he needs to take his emotions out of the equation and remember it's a business.
BTW - If I were JD, I'd go to Houston and ask if they'd be willing to trade Carlos Lee for MY, straight up.
Think about it, Lee makes a little over $16M per year through 2012... so the Rangers would essentially be trading 1 bad contract for another but saving 1yr and roughly $16M... and they'd be getting a guy that's a proven hitter (excluding last year) that would slide in nicely at full time DH and emergency 5th OFer. That trade makes alot of sense to me...
Thanks for the link Aggiecurt. That is a perfect summation of how I feel about this whole situation.
MY has been a great Ranger. I have enjoyed watching him play for all these years. But he is not above the team, nor is anyone else.
We can all admit that MY is very hard to trade, right? Well, I'm sure JD knows exactly how hard he is to trade so he saw no reason to tell Mike he was shopping him because the odds of getting a deal done was slim to none. It's too bad feelings get hurt in this deal, but oh well.
I used to respect MY and thought this team needed his leadership. I'm sick of it. I have been mislead and minipulated by the "leadership" quality of MY. I say keep him and put him on the bench with that attitude.
I thought you were better than this MY!!!
You MISLEAD me!!!
Pablo,
Ken Rosenthal read your mind. http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal
"ssshhhh, quiet... it's a secret"
Sorry, I can't even grasp the tip of fact, that JD wanted to
paint himself in a corner in having to trade Michael Young.
C'mon we're looking at a lost loser in trade at anytime b4 May.
After May, it's darn well impossible, without going in the $-hole.
Right, real smart. The board would ask therapy for Daniels.
Let's see MY @3y/48mm to trade before May. Soon thereafter.
Mike goes 5y/10y Power Leverage on ANY trades available.
Throw in the fans on top of Daniels, yelling "et tu Brute"?
Where's the sanity in that scenario. Unless one loves train wrecks.
@LFloyd - LOL... I swear I didn't read that 1st... I came up with the idea after looking at the 8 teams and trying to find an equally bad contract... and Lee's made the most sense.
You would have to sweeten the pot a little to off set the additional $16M (or whatever the amount actually is) MY will make in 2013... but I would think it would only cost a lower level prospect (Carlos Melo maybe?).
If you look at Lee's numbers during his time here, he mashed... and although his 2010 season sucked, he's only a few years removed from MVP talk. The guy can hit... and getting his fat butt off the field will only make him more valuable (as the full time DH).
Imagine the meat of your line up being some combo of Hammy/Beltre/Cruz/Lee/Kinsler... that's a pretty stout lineup... especially when you sprinkle in Napoli/Moreland/Murphy.
The only question is who hits #2... and while all signs point to Kinsler, he's proven he does NOT belong at the top of your lineup. Regardless, I'm sure Wash and Co. could find a suitable bat to hit 2nd.
If Lee would accept the trade, I'd do it in a heartbeat. In looking at the 8 teams MY would agree to, Lee makes the most sense for the Rangers. And with the PR hit the Astros have suffered the past 2 or 3 years, MY would help soothe their fan base.
I'm seeing the Carlos Lee - Mike Young as a very doable deal also.
Mikes painted himself in the corner, by going the 'low road' by
implying that Daniels is umm liar. Bad move Mikey. Emotions got ya.
Should have taken a Midol for those cramps. Image blown kiddo.
Good brainiac Pablo!!
Can Chucky go out and hire a conflict counselor please.
Eat shit people and get this resolved.
I think even you Michael would rather go out smoothly and try to reconcile. Please try because this just sucks for everyone, you not excluded.
There's alot of talk (nationally) that the Ranger's bargaining power took a serious hit when MY demands a trade. I disagree with that notion. In fact, I see their leverage becoming greater because of his demand. It now opens up discussions with every team, regardless of whether or not their on his list.
JD can now tell a team like the Rockies that they have to open their wallets/sweeten the pot BECAUSE there are now more options available, even if those options don't really exist. The Rockies don't know what's on the table. For all they know the Rangers could be talking to one of their division rivals and if something is agreed upon, JD can take the offer to MY and see if he's willing to go to that team. He's already said he'd look at other teams on a "case by case basis", right? So why not use that flexibility to drive UP the price?
Every team has a bad contract. The Giants have Zito, the Cubs have Zambrano, etc... And there are several teams that adding MY could push them over the top, like the Cardinals. Unless I'm missing someone obvious, they don't have a real good option at 3B. Maybe they gear up for 1 last run (while they still have Pujols) and make a play for MY... who knows! The point is, as far as I see it, MY's demands only put the Rangers in a better bargaining position...
I still feel like an offer of Young-Borbon-Harrison-Fabio Castillo-$20m for Matt Kemp makes the Rangers much better (adding a potential 30/30 CF who is only 27), makes the Dodgers much better (speedy Borbon replaces Kemp in cavernous CF @ Dodgers Stadium, his speed plays better in the NL anyway, Young moves to 2B, pushing Juan Uribe to his more natural 3B position, with 38-year-old Csey Blake moving to bench/utility, and they add a couple of arms, all in roughly a cash-neutral dealonce you factor in both the cash they're getting and Kemp's salary), and is a great move for Young, who gets to go home to SoCal.
Please note that trading Young is both best for the team AND best for Young. He needs to find a team with a gaping hole in their lineup at 2B or 3B for whom he would represent a major upgrade. The Dodgers represent such a landing spot, as do the Rockies. I hope it all works out for the best for him.
Finally, @ Joe, Ranger513, and others:
I think you're missing something. This is NOT a bigger p.r. disaster for the Rangers than if this had been handled more straightforwardly earlier. This is much better for the Rangers. Young is going to come off looking like a spoiled brat (perhaps unfairly, but nonetheless so). What would have been a p.r. disaster would be for Young to be shipped off while saying "All I wanted was to stay a Ranger and do whatever I could to help this team win." As it is, this will go over fine with 95% of fans as long as the team wins, which, as currently constructed, it should. I don't think JD feels like he's stepped in it. I think he's grinning like a Chesshire Cat.
Yes, yes, yes. I love it that MY is going. I do believe that JD needs to reiterate one more time that he is a General Manager, apparently. Otherwise, folks might begin to wonder how it is he feels he has a responsibility to look for ways to improve this team. "What! JD told you he would listen to offers? What a devious traitor he is." "Guys, let's see if we can figure out some way to improve the team without hurting anyone's feelings. Oh, well, on 2nd thought, let's be sure to hurt Mikey in this process." I think this whole thing is hilarious. Get over yourself, Young. The truth is, there are some teams out there who think more of your talents than the Rangers FO. Deal with it, because JD is going to figure out how to use that fact to the team's advantage.
I honestly think that MY still sees himself as a valuable, everyday 3B. The Rangers' FO is essentially telling MY that his skills have so diminished that he is no better than a glorified backup for this team. Yes, he will get plenty of playing time and at-bats if he stays, but this transition will ultimately signal the end of his time as a starting player in the MLB. Could he start for other bad teams today? Yes. Contending teams? Some, probably. However, if he stays in this role, he will continue to lose the credibility and recognition that will ultimately impact his next contract.
Last time I checked, they did not give out a sixth-man award for the best bench player in baseball. While he could still be a significant piece of the equation going forward, he will be not be viewed in the same way as he was in the past. Not by his teammates, not by the MLB, and not by the fans. This is where I think the "hurt feelings" stem from on the part of MY. He is facing a huge reality check and he now wants to go where he thinks his talents could be more appreciated. I do not fault him for this. MY is a great team player and a great guy. Like all of us, MY is looking for affirmation and recognition in his profession. While a perfect teammate would succumb to the will of the franchise, we have to remember that MY is not perfect. I would venture a guess that most established athletes have enormous egos and MY is no exception. No starter-to-roleplayer transition is easy and this particular transition is just that - not easy.
"I think you're missing something. This is NOT a bigger p.r. disaster for the Rangers than if this had been handled more straightforwardly earlier. This is much better for the Rangers. Young is going to come off looking like a spoiled brat (perhaps unfairly, but nonetheless so)."
Scooby,
The above represents BBTiA group think. Reality out there is that most of the fans will be upset just like Mr. Ranger is upset. He doesn't look excessively like a brat, tons of people will still take his side regardless of how many people on BBTiA who already hated Young will take JD's side.
Joe
Joe, fewer people will take Young's side with him asking out than if he publically wanted to stay and was traded. If he had just been dealt and had said to Evan Grant "I wish they hadn't done this" it would come off worse for the Rangers than it does now, with Young essentially calling Nolan a liar when Nolan says that Young changed his mind (which nolan himself has said on The Ticket). Ticket hosts have been in an anti-Young stance most of the day, in fact. That's not what would have happened if Young had not had this ourburst.
yes, some (even many) will support Young over the club in this. But far fewer than would have otherwise. I think you're going to be in a fairly small minority out there. Here's why:
I know and you know that a platoon of Napoli/Murphy represents a major upgrade at the plate over Young. Casual fans think Young backed out of a competition with some no-name guy called Napoli for ABs, which is a wuss move because, hey, he's Face and he's an AWESOME hitter, and who the hell is this Napoli guy who hits .225? Because most Rangers fans believe (erroneously) that Young leaving represents a major downgrade for the team at DH, they view this basically as Young "bailing" on the club just when they finally had a winner.
Sorry, but this is MUCH better for the FO than forcing him out by trading him against his will.
And, again, they couldn't tell him in the aftermath of the Beltre signing "Hey, right now you're the DH, but we're going to try to find an upgrade over you." After all, he would have requested a trade, and what happens then if no alternative DH could be found? That would be flat out malpractice on JD's part.
Reality out there is that most of the fans will be upset just like Mr. Ranger is upset. He doesn't look excessively like a brat, tons of people will still take his side
Oh, please. Define "tons". Is Opening Day NOT going to be a sellout? Are people going to be burning their MY shirts in the parking lot?
@Joe,
I think a lot of us were Mikey Baseball fans at one point, but the real truth is we are better without him, and JD coming clean about the fact that he is continually looking to improve the team isn't necessary. Honesty is a virtue, but you'll be as happy as any of us to see Beltre stepping onto the field on Opening Day, and Napoli stepping in to take his hacks at the plate. You'll see soon enough that JD was right to put his team ahead of any loyalty to Young.
Mike will get over it quickly when he realizes his bank account is still credited the same amount of money on the 1st of each month. You will get over it when you realize the Rangers are a much better team on April 15th, 2011 than they were on April 15th, 2010.
I don't think that this would have gotten as messy if Nolan had been working things. But I think he has backed off since Chuck G. came on board.
I'm with Mike. He has been kicked around. It's not always about the money for all players. How can any of you be complaining about MY being selfish, when the FO went out and gave that long, fat contract to Beltre, and was willing to go seven years with Cliff Lee?
Wasn't the original off-season plan to go out and sign a right-handed power bat 'for the bench'? I hope that Mike goes to the Astros, so that I can go to see him this season.
You will be missed in Arlington, buddy!
"How can any of you be complaining about MY being selfish, when the FO went out and gave that long, fat contract to Beltre, and was willing to go seven years with Cliff Lee?"
Easy - those guys make the team much better while Young is being overpayed while his production declines.
Joey,
I've been on this site for almost a year and I make it on two to three times a day. Over the past three weeks it has become a nightmare from certain people abusing their privileges. I cannot take more hostility and more monotonous drivel. The site is not good anymore when someone cannot state their opinion and then just let it float and move on. It's seems like there's a group of people locked in someone's basement where they have nonstop internet access while all using the same pen name.
The forum topics have also been controlled by the same dominate participant. It has quickly come a point where it's him (them) or me because this insanity has taken the site in a downward spiral like the flush of a toilet.
Thanks for the good work and for giving me a comprehensive site to enjoy during my time here and through that memorable World Series run. My best to those that also made me think a bit harder like Scooby, Pablo and the many others.
Go Rangers...............
1) Overpaying MY at a Superstar level at a time he was a fairly mediocre SS;
But was that solely JD's decision to extend Young, with no material influence from Hicks? In hindsight (and especially right now), the extension looks like something between a disappointment and a nightmare, and I get that the GM is accountable for all transactions, but I'm trying to think back and remember if the perception at the time was that Hicks and Co. were really pushing to get Young locked in regardless of cost. I doubt it was a Cashman/R. Soriano-type situation, but I'm also not sure that Hicks didn't play a meaningful role in the contract coming into existence, and at that salary/duration level.
*Here’s my take on the M Young contract. Through no fault of his, the Rangers had made many bad decisions around this time. So he took advantage of this fact and held them hostage “when I become a free agent I want to play on the east coast preferably if not the west coast”. If those were not the exact words I saw written they were close. So considering the Rangers were feeling they needed to appease the fan favorite player at the time, to save their fan base, gave him a contract way above what anyone subjectively paying attention would consider fair compensation. Now knowing how much of a team player he is would we expect M Young to act any other way.