Report: Phillies Close to Acquiring Michael Young?
Posted by Corey Seidman, Thu, December 06, 2012 02:23 AM | Comments: 37
Acquisitions, Analysis, Rumors
Michael Young hit .277/.312/.370 last season for the Rangers.
Apparently so, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
A trio of sources tell Grant that the teams are in “advanced talks” on a deal that would send a young, major-league reliever and a low-level prospect to Texas for the 36-year-old Young.
Grant reports that Texas would likely pick up “more than half” of Young’s $16 million salary for 2013 in the deal. They better pick up more than “more than half” … Young was 125th out of 143 qualifying players last year with a measly .682 OPS.
This would “solve” the third base problem, but who knows how much Young actually has left. He played 2012 in an extreme hitter’s park surrounded by offensive talent and didn’t produce a lick. The Rangers batted him everywhere — 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th — and nothing. He had 27 doubles and 26 GIDPs. He had a .291 OBP against righties.
Then again, if all the Phillies would be giving up is a non-prospect and an expendable reliever, it’s probably worth it to see if Young can recapture a morsel of what he had in 2011, when he hit .338/.380/.474. Or even what he had the eight prior seasons, when he hit .308 with a .814 OPS.
Young has complete no-trade rights because he’s a 10-year veteran who has spent at least the last five seasons with one team. But that shouldn’t be an issue … his playing time is sure to decrease in Texas as Jurickson Profar and Mike Olt get closer to everyday duty.
Stay tuned, we’ll have more in the morning…
Posts: 0 Dan S
Not the Rangers 3rd Basemen I was hoping we would trade for this Winter… but is probably a bit more reliable than an other option at this point.
Personally I am still in favor of trading for a younger player- be it Olt, Bourjos, or the flavor of the week that makes us younger at our need positions.
If the cost is right, this deal makes sense. But I hope that the Phils think past the one year window they have with the current core and make some moves moving proven veterans for near-majors ready players that will continue to have an impact past the 2013 season.
Posted: 02:53 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 rc
If this goes down as it sounds assuming it’s not Aumont or Horst and Rangers cover more than half his salary, you’re not going to get a better move at 3b as long as he’s still adequate in the field.
Numbers may not be as great as he once was but he still had 169 hits and 67 rbis, 79 runs scored…compared to Polanco and he has some versatility in emergency. 11 straight years about 600 plate appearances or more also.
Posted: 03:10 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 rc
so Young was DH for 72 games, 25 games at 3b.
Posted: 03:32 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 74 Tom
Young was only relegated to DH when the Rangers acquired Beltre the same off-season that the Phils acquired Polly! He’s versatile in that he can play third, fill in at first, and possible still play some middle-infield where he was a perennial gold glover!! I personally would love this move especially if they didn’t have to give up anything for him!!
Posted: 04:07 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 hk
No, he was relegated to 3B when Texas finally realized that a statue would have more range and a better glove than Young. The final straw was probably watching him ole ARod’s line drive in Game 1 of the 2010 playoffs.
Posted: 09:27 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 SouledOut1
Puke. Fransden/Galvis are a better option.
Posted: 03:40 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 1077 EricL
I second Souled here. This is terrible. Young cant hit but at least he’s completely atrocious in the field too. It’d be like trading players with value for Mike Fontenot. Frandsen’s career numbers are better than Youngs line last season, and Young has only played something on the order of 65 games or so at third over the last two years.
Just horrible if true.
Posted: 03:52 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 Phillies fan from Germany
I wouldn’t completey with the “can’t hit” label. He was horrible at the plate this year but had a pretty good year in 2011, so maybe his true talent level is somewhere in between. But since he really seems to be terrible in the field I completely agree with your opinion that this would be a terrible move. On top of that the Phillies would have to pay 8 million so this trade should be an absolute no-go.
Posted: 03:58 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 315 Ian Riccaboni
Young was the worst FIRST baseman in baseball last year per FanGraphs. Not good. Not good at all.
Posted: 06:45 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 rc
Wouldn’t really be getting him to play 1b, maybe on an emergency basis
Posted: 08:04 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 315 Ian Riccaboni
“It’s not going in our yard, Rus” – Clark W. Griswold
Posted: 08:32 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 3468 Lefty
I am totally in favor of this move if the price, in terms of trade pieces and salary relief, is right. Although he may be long in the tooth, he has played in at least 150 games almost every year, it’s not like he’s showing signs of his health breaking down. I believe last season’s stats were an outlier and that’s why the Phils might be able to buy low.
Posted: 06:47 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 schmenkman
Lefty, I would agree that he should be better than last year. But even so, I don’t think he is an upgrade over Frandsen, either offensively or defensively.
Posted: 07:52 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 413 Publius
“Sure he’s bad, but at least he plays a lot of games!”
Posted: 12:07 PM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 3468 Lefty
Frandsen is also entering his age 31 season, no spring chicken, and our commitment to Young would only be for one year if he accepts.
Bill James says-
Fransden
.283/.321/.374
Young
.294/.343./416
I still like it.
Posted: 03:26 PM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 531 schmenkman
Right, except that Young’s numbers are based on inflated stats at Arlington, one of the best hitters parks in baseball.
Over the last three years (one decent, one very good, and one horrible), he has a .726 OPS on the road.
I think Frandsen can at least come close to that.
Posted: 10:57 PM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 Fritz
I would rather see them stick with what they have at third. Get an outfielder that can hit the snot out of the ball and put him in the middle of the order. Don’t put too much on Ruf, give him a chance to settle in a little.
Posted: 06:48 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 Jeff T
I’m ok with this move as long as we don’t give up anyone signiificant. Yes, Young was dreck last year, but it was such a drastic dropoff from 2011, that I would guess it’s not a true indicator of his talent. If he hits 260/330/400, thats a good 3B production in this market. Now, about CF . . . .
Posted: 08:09 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 531 schmenkman
I think Frandsen can give you the same thing, so why waste a trade chip (and whatever millions the Phillies pay for their share of his salary)?
Posted: 08:17 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 2524 Chuck A.
I think I have to agree that some combination of Frandsen and Galvis are better at this point. But they obviously don’t think Frandsen can play everyday – Charlie as much as said so when interviewed yesterday at the Winter Meetings. This seems like a “panic” move to me.
Posted: 08:29 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 rc
It could be somewhat compared to the Wiggy move if it happens.
Posted: 08:53 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 hk
Actually, it will probably be worse in that they didn’t give up any assets for Wiggy and only paid him $2.5M.
Posted: 09:28 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 rc
Wasn’t the point but that’s why I said it was somewhat similar.
Posted: 10:05 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 770 betasigmadeltashag
I have to agree that Frandsen can be servicable third basemen if you can get a CF that can hit for some power, I also think with the abreviated seasons from Utley and Howard last year they may have a resurgance in a way, not back to 08 09 but better than last year. I think Utley will be ready for opening day this year with abbreviated spring training time for him. And with Howard a full year removed from the the achilies injury, and most experts say it can take a full year and half to regain total strength in the heal. If Doc can rebound and Lee can get some run support I think inhancing the pen and getting a CF, I think JMJ, Ruff, Brown can make up a decent outfield. And I think do not think Young is an answer
Posted: 08:46 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 rc
So you say we need a CF with power but Mayberry is your CF….
Posted: 09:05 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 515 \"Big Ed\" Delahanty
This, if it were to happen, would be a move of epic stupidity. I’d rather have Frandsen/Galvis any day. Give up a prospect for Young?! No way. C’mon RAJ!
Posted: 08:58 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 rc
you can probably rest easy…young’s been a pain in the past about trades
8:06am: As of late last night Young had shown no interest in waiving his no-trade, tweets ESPN’s Jayson Stark.
7:10am: There are signs that Young would be willing to waive his no-trade rights and accept a move to Philadelphia, writes Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com
Posted: 09:33 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 2524 Chuck A.
This really makes no sense for Young to even do this. I would think that he’d get MORE at-bats for Texas since they can use him at DH.
Posted: 09:58 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 rc
I agree, except I think at one time anyway he wanted to play third, not DH when they got Beltre. Some players don’t like DH’ing, they want to play.
Posted: 10:13 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 hk
The guy has a .682 OPS last year. Something tells me that Texas is looking to replace him as their DH, especially if they trade for Justin Upton in which case they would probably move Nelson Cruz to DH. (Unfortunately) I would think he would be in line for more playing time at 3B in Philly.
Posted: 10:13 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 Ken Bland
Doncha just love the winter meetings and the rumors that come out of ‘em?
“Youkilis Has One-Year, $12MM Offer From Yanks”. screams the headline. That is utterly amazing.
Anyway, about Young, I don’t have much to say. I’ll just say that a change of scenery might be good for him. I don’t know that the factor would elevate his game to a satisfactory level, but if it’s gonna happen, that might be something to be optimistic about. One positive about Young is he’s probably a 1 year investment. Maybe Youk wants 2. The way the math works in this totally unique baseball economic world is if 12 for 1 isn’t enough, the teams compromise on 2 for 28. But if you can’t get Youk for less than 14 mil total (2 years), which at least publicly seems the general, or minimum range, then maybe the stars allign properly for Young for a year at 6-8 mil (after the Ranger portion of the pay), and then Asche is ready. I still like Roman Quinn quite a bit, but he may be 2 years away, and might wind up an outfielder, or stay at short.
But this is a good story. It teaches me I shouldn’t have made fun of the Raul story yesterday.
Maybe we can still do that one, too.
Posted: 10:14 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 Don M
@Ken … I guess i’m about to lose our bet. I had Youkilis as signing a two-year deal at a max of $15 M … reports say he has two-year offers of $16 M and $18 M !!!
I was pretty sure someone would offer him like $9 M on a one-year ….but then the Yankees got crazy and offered $12 M !
We’ll see what he does, but it looks like you’re right, and Youkilis will be getting more than the $15 M i predicted
Posted: 11:19 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 515 \"Big Ed\" Delahanty
Dear Ruben,
Adding a 36 year-old in substantial decline does not in any universe make the team younger. Any older and we will be renamed to the Philadelphia Founding Fathers. Now batting clean-up, George Washington. Good God!
Posted: 10:59 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 Mazinman
I am ok with this. There is not a lot of Third base options so why not take a shot with a relatively low risk option? Its definitely better that continuing to play Frandsen in my book. I still have nightmares over his fielding in that Atlanta game.
Posted: 11:06 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 531 schmenkman
Depends on how low-risk, I suppose. If it’s $2M (Texas pays $14M), plus Schwimer, say, than it’s tolerable.
If it’s $6M (Texas pay $8M) plus Schwimer, then I don’t think it’s worth any upgrade it might provide.
Posted: 11:14 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 hk
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12833591&query=%26game_pk%3D286333
Texas might as well have not had anyone playing 3B in the 8th inning.
Posted: 11:49 AM on December 6, 2012
Posts: 0 Brian
I would much rather spend $8mil a year on a proven 8th inning set up man. That investment clearly makes more business sense, because of the money the team has spent on starting pitching and the closer. If they need to pick up a bat, I’d look at Nick Swisher. Plug him into RF and trade Dom Brown…maybe for a young starter or even a proven 8th inning guy.
Posted: 11:03 AM on December 7, 2012