Back from the sick bed today w/ thoughts on several stories
Michael Young wants Rangers to trade him
Short version of events: the Rangers decided to move Young from SS to 3B to make room for prospect Elvis Andrus without consulting Young. Young asks to be dealt.
Uh, fat chance my friend.
There is absolutely zero chance that the Rangers will be able to get any kind of fair value in a trade involving Young because of his contract. He gets $16 million a year for the next 5 years (2009-2013) and there just aren't many teams who can absorb that much into their payroll while also giving up quality in return.
It should also be noted that Young's production has slipped a bit over the last three years.
2004 - .313, 22 HR, 99 RBI (.836 OPS)
2005 - .331, 24 HR, 91 RBI (.899 OPS)
2006 - .314, 14 HR, 103 RBI (.815 OPS)
2007 - .315, 9 HR, 94 RBI (.784 OPS)
2008 - .284, 12 HR, 82 RBI (.741 OPS)
I think that .899 OPS in '05 was an abberation but that three-year decline has got to be scary. Other teams might also wonder what those numbers would look like had he not been hitting in one of the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball 81-times a year.
Plus, I seriously doubt the Rangers will be willing to eat a big chunk of that just to accomodate Young's desire to stay in the middle infield.
Hey Mike, what about what's best for your team? You know, the one that's gonna pay you $80 million over the next 5 years...
If moving you to 3B makes the team better, just do it. Stop with the ego-driven soap opera.
The Rangers don't like their other defensive options at 3B (Hank Blalock & Chris Davis) so having a solid glove man (Young) slide over to accomodate another strong glove man (Andrus) is completely logical.
Plus, it makes more sense to shift the 32 year-old veteran to a corner infield spot than it does to move the kid over there.
Suck it up big fella.
Manny still out there - Dodgers, Giants supposedly after him
"You reap what you sow."
See what all this "Manny Being Manny" business has gotten you, Mr. Ramirez?
Even though you're dead-cinch lock Hall of Famer and still one of the best hitters in the game, nobody wants any part of you on a long-term deal because you're a headcase. Especially not at the money you're asking for.
There is no doubt in my mind that Manny would have a 4-year, $100 million offer on the table if he were the kind of player that you never had a question about regarding effort. All the garbage he pulled in Boston last year is kicking him in the rear end this offseason.
Rightfully so.
I like Manny as a player. He's one of the best hitters I've ever seen and he seems like a decent, fun-loving kind of guy. But when you get the rap of being someone who "tanked" it as a means of getting out of town you don't live that down quickly.
Not that Scott Boras needs my advice, but here's some anyway:
Take a 1-year deal for $25 million from the Dodgers, tell your client to go be a good teammate for a full year in LA and then revisit this next offseason when there's a little distance between contract talks and Manny's reindeer games in Boston.
Derek Lowe gets 4-years, $60 million from the Braves
I like Derek Lowe and think he'll be a nice pitcher for the Braves. Seems like a lot of years for a guy who turns 36 in June but with his pitching style it doesn't seem like he'd be one to break down going forward.
The Braves also locked in Kenshin Kawakami, so their rotation depth is good for now.
Now they've got to fix that lineup. Need at least two more bats (CF, LF) IMO.
Kris Benson back in the mix
Word is that his arm feels good and that four teams are interested...
Cardinals, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Rangers
Cardinals fans would lose their minds if Benson signs in St. Louis. Been down this rehab road too many times recently (Mark Mulder, Matt Clement and at a different level Chris Carpenter).
Might make sense for the Dodgers and the Rangers really wouldn't have much to lose by taking a shot.
Can't see where he'd fit in w/ the D'Backs. They have better in-house options.
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not to mention Young has declined so much defensively in the last few years that he's now a liability for Texas at Shortstop. That might be a huge reason for Andrus getting his shot-- the Rangers might think he's not quite ready offensively, but are willing to let him develop that in the bigs while his glove helps them now.... we'll see.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Todd. Well said.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the splits on Derek Lowe? No worries for 35 yr.old?
ReplyDeleteHome: 9-5 2.30 ERA 117.1 IP .206BAA
AWAY: 5-6 4.42 ERA 93.2 IP .292BAA
No doubt those splits are a concern, Stokes, but almost half of his ER on the road (20 of 46) came in three games (STL, COL, LAA) where he got torched. His road ERA outside those three starts was 2.90.
ReplyDeleteNot worried at all....