Michael Young's sense of his value may be far higher than anybody elses'. |
And now he wants out of Texas. The Rangers moved him to third base after 2008 -- his Gold Glove season -- to make room for Elvis Andrus at short. This winter they signed Adrian Beltre, with the intent of making the 34-year-old Young the DH. Now they've traded for Mark Napoli, and Young apparently figures he's going to lose even DH at-bats.
Aaron Gleeman on Tuesday provided this takedown of Young's decaying skills. And I think it is testimony to the spread of sabermetric thinking in baseball's front offices that it's difficult to imagine anybody taking Young off the Rangers' hands, even if the Rangers agreed to absorb his hefty salary.
The Twins are apparently one of the eight teams to which Young can, per his contract, be traded. I cannot imagine any circumstances in which the Twins would take him, even if Texas offered to pay the entire $48 million he's to get over the next three seasons.
What would they do with him? Play him at third over the younger Danny Valencia? Install him at second or short to wave at ground balls as they go past? If he's displeased with the notion of being the regular DH in Texas, he's hardly going to be happy getting platoon at-bats in that role in Minnesota.
No, old Mr. Young is about to get a reality check, one his abilities have insufficient funds to cover.
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