Michael Young has finally had enough of his ever-changing role in Texas – shortstop? third base? second base? first base? DH? – and he’s ready to move on. Surely the Rangers anticipated his frustration when they added first Adrian Beltre and then Mike Napoli, leaving Young without a clear starting spot.
The Texas Rangers have told infielder Michael Young(notes) they will attempt to trade him in the coming days, according to a source familiar with those conversations, in part because Young has grown disillusioned with his diminished role on the team.
The Rangers are known to have been in contact with the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels. The Rockies are believed to be Young’s most likely destination. The Rangers probably would rather not trade Young to the Angels, who share the American League West, but also would like to heed the wishes of Young, a loyal and productive player for a decade.
Both the Angels and Rockies would ask for salary relief in order to offset Young’s contract. He is due $48 million over the next three seasons. Yahoo! Sports.
The Rockies have reportedly asked the Rangers to eat at least $20 million of Young’s deal, which would leave them paying him about $9 million per year over the next three seasons – still a high price. Sufficiently high, in fact, that even if the Rangers were willing to eat that much of Young’s deal to move him, I doubt the Cubs could take him on.