Michael Young trade possibly in the works (again)...

[momo]

it's a pretty shitty deal. i'd like him to stay as outfield or dh.

[Nash B.]

Just damn good plays.

30 in a season would be a stretch

[bcoop]

I heard that this morning...that Young was requesting a trade. I'm sure when Beltre got signed for $16 mil a year, he felt like he was done.

But he's always been a versatile player for them, going wherever he was needed. And he came out and said he was ok with going to DH, too. Something has changed between then and now.

I questioned moving him to DH and letting Vlad go, because his bat went cold during the playoffs short of the one series someone else mentioned.

[Vertnut]

30 in a season would be a stretch

There's no way it was 30, but Andrus has tremendous range. I was one of his "doubters" after his first year (22 errors?). He made me look silly.

[Vertnut]

But he's always been a versatile player for them, going wherever he was needed. And he came out and said he was ok with going to DH, too. Something has changed between then and now.

I questioned moving him to DH and letting Vlad go, because his bat went cold during the playoffs short of the one series someone else mentioned.

Just saw where he "has become dis-illusioned with his diminishing role on the team".

[UserX]

He got butt hurt over something, because just a few weeks ago he said he would do anything to stay and help the team. I'm sure it will leak out soon enough. I'm curious, because apparently he wants out NOW.

[Vertnut]

He got butt hurt over something, because just a few weeks ago he said he would do anything to stay and help the team. I'm sure it will leak out soon enough. I'm curious, because apparently he wants out NOW.

The Rangers said they would do something within a couple of days.

[Nash B.]

Disappointing...

Texas Rangers veteran Michael Young said he asked for a trade because he's been "misled and manipulated on different occasions."

"I'm tired of it," Young said.

The 34-year-old spoke out Monday night after general manager Jon Daniels and club president Nolan Ryan talked with the media and said they will try to accommodate Young's wish to play in the field every day for another team.

Young said he expects a trade to take place but isn't sure when that might occur.

"I think it's important to address what I think is kind of an inaccurate portrayal," Young said. "The suggestion from the team that I've had a change of heart and that's why I asked for a trade is a manipulation of the truth in my mind."

Young said he didn't want to go into detail about what exactly happened this offseason to cause the rift between him and the front office.

"I do want to maintain some semblance of respect for my teammates," Young said. "I feel like I'm defending myself right now, but I'd much rather remain on the high road. I think airing out dirty laundry is unproductive for all that's involved.

"At the end of the day, a few people know the truth. I know the truth. JD [Daniels] knows the truth. And I'm going to sleep well. I have peace of mind and I feel good. I'm very comfortable with how this has been handled on my end."

It's Never Too Early
February 16, 2011 | Surprise, Az.
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Asked if he felt he and the club could get past this if he wasn't traded, the veteran said: "I don't know."
"I'm trying to prepare as I usually do, which is to get ready to play my style of baseball. This offseason, I've tried to improve on what I want to improve on."

Young said the furthest thing from his mind is his next contract. He just said that he sees himself as an everyday player who can play the infield.

The Rangers' all-time hits leader said he talked to Ryan twice, something the club president mentioned earlier in the day.

"We talked about a variety of things," Young said. "I was upfront and honest like I've been this entire time and let him know where I was at. I've always held Nolan in high regard and have great respect for him, and I'm glad he got a chance to hear me out. I think he wanted to listen and hear what I had to say and that was important to me."

Young said he has tried to keep a low profile out of respect for his teammates, coaches, family and fans. But he felt the need to say something after he read some of the quotes from the conference call with reporters earlier Monday.

"I've tried to handle myself with a respect in the community and treat the fans with integrity and class and I feel like I've done the same thing this offseason. But I can't let people speak for me and say things that are inaccurate when it comes to how I feel."

Earlier in the day, Daniels confirmed that Young told the Rangers last week that he does not want to be a full-time DH and wants to be traded.

"I wish it hadn't come to this," Daniels said. "It's not our first choice. Our first choice is to continue with our offseason plan and continue with Michael playing a pivotal role. He's had a change of heart about that role. If we can accommodate his request and upgrade the club, we'd like to do that."

In regards to the differences between Young and the team, Daniels said his "hope is that it can be repaired."

Young has three years and $48 million remaining on his contract, which also includes a limited no-trade that allows the club to deal him to only eight specific teams. Ryan said at this point Young is not willing on expanding that list. Daniels didn't want to speculate on which teams he's talked to but mentioned that some teams not on Young's list have inquired about him. Daniels said "nothing is imminent to this point."

A source confirmed that the eight teams are the Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies.

Young hit .284 with 21 homers and 91 RBIs in 157 games for a Rangers team that reached the World Series. The club planned for Young to play some first base in spring training so that he could play any of the infield positions. But the club is not entertaining the thought of moving him to first base full-time because they are committed to Mitch Moreland, who had a strong finish to the 2010 season and a solid playoff run.

Young said last month, just before Adrian Beltre signed, that he was willing to move into a role as a DH and super-utility infielder. Ryan said that initially, Young was OK with the move because the Dallas area has been his home, his family is comfortable and he's on a club that is now winning.

"But he thought about it and felt like the timing wasn't right and that once you go into a DH role, people view you as a DH," Ryan said. "He doesn't view himself that way. He wants to be an everyday player and that's what he wants to do. I understand where he is on that. But saying that, we told him we'd do what we could to try to accommodate him and give him an opportunity to go to another organization."

Josh Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP, said he spoke to Young during a workout on Monday and that Young wasn't sure whether he'd be traded.

"He's been a guy that I could go to and really look at as a veteran leader. If we lose him, it's going to be a big loss," Hamilton said as the team's equipment truck left for the team's spring training complex in Surprise, Ariz. "It's hard to think about. It's hard to lose a guy who's your most durable player, who's in there every day, who's getting 550, 600 at-bats every year and putting up numbers like he does.

"It doesn't make sense. I don't get paid to make those kinds of decisions. We'll see."

Young' s departure would mean more than just losing a good hitter. Young is the club's unquestioned leader. So others would have to emerge in his place.

"If Michael were to be traded, I'd look at it as an opportunity for others to step up," Daniels said. "I think guys have that in them. If it gets to that point, and there is a trade, I have a lot of faith in players that there's some growth and they'd step up and take on a different role. But I don't want to get ahead of ourselves."

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/news/story?id=6098059

[Chrm10SpkZ28]

"At the end of the day, a few people know the truth. I know the truth. JD [Daniels] knows the truth. And I'm going to sleep well. I have peace of mind and I feel good. I'm very comfortable with how this has been handled on my end."

After a few of those comments, including this one, it almost sounds like something happened between Young and Daniels. Who knows though, eventually it will come out. If Young does end up getting traded, I will hate the fact that Guerrero wasnt resigned even more. If Young is gone I would much have rather seen Guerrero as the DH then Napoli. We'll see though how it plays out, hopefully they can smooth things out and he stays. I think his presence in the locker room is much needed and he would be awesome at the utility/DH roll. He isnt horrable at 3B, but his errors were costly, just because they did come at the worst times. I think Beltre really only improves us at that position because of his range. It seemed that Young was always an inch or two short from getting to balls on his glove side. But given Beltre's past I am curious to see how he will perform this year.

[Vertnut]

After a few of those comments, including this one, it almost sounds like something happened between Young and Daniels. Who knows though, eventually it will come out. If Young does end up getting traded, I will hate the fact that Guerrero wasnt resigned even more. If Young is gone I would much have rather seen Guerrero as the DH then Napoli. We'll see though how it plays out, hopefully they can smooth things out and he stays. I think his presence in the locker room is much needed and he would be awesome at the utility/DH roll. He isnt horrable at 3B, but his errors were costly, just because they did come at the worst times. I think Beltre really only improves us at that position because of his range. It seemed that Young was always an inch or two short from getting to balls on his glove side. But given Beltre's past I am curious to see how he will perform this year.

There's no guarantee that Young could be an effective DH. It takes a whole different mind-set to do that. $16 mil a year is a lot for a DH if he tanks at the plate.

[SlowLX]

I'd sure hate to lose one of the center pieces of the rangers leadership, but whatever you do not the Fucking Yankees!!!

[bucky]

Young can still hit. I am totally against a trade unless it improves our pitching. And i am not talking about a couple of low level prospects. I want someone who can step right into the rotation. The more i have been reading, we would probably only get a utitlity infielder and would have to eat most of his salary. I would rather just keep him.

[Machx2]

Wow, lol. Good job JD...

[SlowLX]

Wow, lol. Good job JD...

Exactly I'm still leaning towards this falls on Jon Doucher....His decisions as GM are extremely hit or miss in the long term it seems, it wouldn't surprise me if he cut Young out of the loop for whatever reason.

[BP]

JD shouldn't have to coddle a declining player that's overpaid. I like MY for what he has done in the past and I'm sure he will be productive for a few more years but he's getting paid like a super star player and he's not. A .285 average with 20 or so home runs, 85-90 RBIS is pretty good for a quality position player but Young has been a defensive liability.

Miguel Tejada made $6 million last year and will make $6.5 this year and Jimmy Rollins made $8.5 and will again this year. Both are former MVPs and Rollins is a multiple gold glover. If you take Arod (way overpaid) and Longoria (way underpaid) out of the equation then a quality 3rd basemen is worth somewhere between these two guys, MY makes nearly double and doesn't bring anywhere near the glove.