It wasn’t too long ago that it seemed all Michael Young trade rumors were put to bed. He’s due $48 million over the next three years, and the Rangers have been unwilling to eat much of that sum in order to move Young – which is the only way they’ll find a taker.
Well, the rumors are back, and now the Cubs are being linked a little more concretely. According to the Boston Globe, the Cubs might consider trading for Young if, you guessed it, the Rangers eat enough of his deal. Why the Globe would have the inside scoop on this, rather than, say, a Chicago source, I couldn’t say. It could be nothing more than an educated guess.
Young would slot in as the Cubs’ starting second baseman, where he’s the defensive equivalent of Blake DeWitt (read: not good), but is a theoretical offensive upgrade. Nevermind that Young has been in decline for years – he’s now 34 – and that he’s never hit better than Koyie Hill outside of Arlington. Landing Young might not actually make the Cubs better, but rumors are fun! Yay!
Presumably, if the Cubs landed Young, DeWitt or Jeff Baker would be relegated to a utility role, and the other might well be shipped out. What it would cost to get Young is anyone’s guess, but I’m certain it’s inexorably linked to how much of his remaining contract the Rangers eat.