So much has been made of players who have become distractions while asking to be traded. For the most part, these players have acted in a selfish way to get out of places they do not want to be. Little to no regard is intended for the team the player is currently playing for. Other times teams are simply looking to dump payroll because they cannot afford the higher salaries. But what about a player who has been the ultimate company man? One who has made position change after position change. After all his own selfless sacrifices, he is given an ultimatum: either wave your no trade clause, or become a bench player. This, of course, is the story of Texas Rangers and infielder Michael Young.
After making it through his first two seasons on a Rangers team that was not very good, Young became a face of the franchise starting in 2003. His emergence (.306, 14, 72, 204 hits, 106 RS) gave the team a homegrown star (though he was originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays) and eventually led to the trade of star SS Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees for 2B Alfonso Soriano. The expectation of the trade was that Soriano would move back to SS, where he had more experience and had played much in the minor leagues. Young, in the minors, had played twice as much at 2B than at SS. But after Soriano refused to play SS, Young volunteered to play SS.
Becoming a perrenial All Star, Young would have some of his best years as a shortstop. He had five straight 200 hit seasons and was consistently hitting above .300. He was the leader on a team that was gradually getting better. Soriano had moved on, and it was Ian Kinsler who took over at 2B.
Prior to the 2009 season, the Rangers had a 20 year old prospect who was thought to be a star in the making. Elvin Andrus came in to the 2009 season as the everyday SS after Young was asked to change his position again, this time to 3B. Young, being the team guy he is, did it without a problem knowing it was the right thing to do. For the first time in his career, he missed some time due to injury. The change in positions may have contributed to it. He still made the All Star team, played in 135 games, hit .322 and had 37 2Bs and 22 HRs. He was healthy all 2010, hitting .286, 21, 91 with another 186 hits and 99 RS as the Rangers made their first World Series appearance.
After then, the Rangers felt they could land one of the biggest free agents on the market. The only issue was that this man was Adrian Beltre, and he was one of the best offensive and defensive 3Bs in all of baseball. With Kinsler at 2B and Andrus at SS, where else could Young go? The Rangers had already looked to trade him, but he was expected to split the season between DH and 1B. Once again, he did the right thing. Not only that, but he had one of his best seasons, hitting .338, 11, 106 with 41 2Bs. Once again, the Rangers made it to the World Series.
He did have a down 2012 season. In 156 games, he hit .277, 8, 67 with a career low .682 OPS. He was primarily a DH, just like 2011, but played more than half of his games in the field. His contract calls for one remaining year at $16 million. So, perhaps looking back on his 2012, maybe he is on the decline. His numbers are amongst the all time leaders in Rangers history with his 2230 hits, 1085 RS and 986 RBI. He also has a .301 career with 415 2Bs.
I understand the right the Rangers have to trade Young if they wish. But, it is clearly overboard to give the guy an ultimatum and threaten to cut his playing time. The Rangers agreed to the contract too. Young has earned the opportunity to play. He has played in 156 or more games in ten of the eleven full seasons. The guy has moved from 2B to SS to 3B to DH/ part time 1B all for the best interest of the team. And now the Rangers want him to leave. To me, that is a sign of disrespect and Michael Young has every right to be upset with this. Even though he probably never say it. Texas Rangers: Michael Young has earned the right to choose where he would like to be traded to. As the Rangers have decided they no longer want him, he has ten/ five rights, so he has earned the right to veto a trade. In addition to the nearly 200 games, he has DHed, Young has played 792 games at SS, 446 at 2B, 358 at 3B and 77 at 1B. a seven time All Star, 6 times of 200+ hits and a lifetime .300+ hitter deserves to be treated better than the Rangers have treated Michael Young. Shame on the Texas Rangers.
Becoming a perrenial All Star, Young would have some of his best years as a shortstop. He had five straight 200 hit seasons and was consistently hitting above .300. He was the leader on a team that was gradually getting better. Soriano had moved on, and it was Ian Kinsler who took over at 2B.
Prior to the 2009 season, the Rangers had a 20 year old prospect who was thought to be a star in the making. Elvin Andrus came in to the 2009 season as the everyday SS after Young was asked to change his position again, this time to 3B. Young, being the team guy he is, did it without a problem knowing it was the right thing to do. For the first time in his career, he missed some time due to injury. The change in positions may have contributed to it. He still made the All Star team, played in 135 games, hit .322 and had 37 2Bs and 22 HRs. He was healthy all 2010, hitting .286, 21, 91 with another 186 hits and 99 RS as the Rangers made their first World Series appearance.
After then, the Rangers felt they could land one of the biggest free agents on the market. The only issue was that this man was Adrian Beltre, and he was one of the best offensive and defensive 3Bs in all of baseball. With Kinsler at 2B and Andrus at SS, where else could Young go? The Rangers had already looked to trade him, but he was expected to split the season between DH and 1B. Once again, he did the right thing. Not only that, but he had one of his best seasons, hitting .338, 11, 106 with 41 2Bs. Once again, the Rangers made it to the World Series.
He did have a down 2012 season. In 156 games, he hit .277, 8, 67 with a career low .682 OPS. He was primarily a DH, just like 2011, but played more than half of his games in the field. His contract calls for one remaining year at $16 million. So, perhaps looking back on his 2012, maybe he is on the decline. His numbers are amongst the all time leaders in Rangers history with his 2230 hits, 1085 RS and 986 RBI. He also has a .301 career with 415 2Bs.
I understand the right the Rangers have to trade Young if they wish. But, it is clearly overboard to give the guy an ultimatum and threaten to cut his playing time. The Rangers agreed to the contract too. Young has earned the opportunity to play. He has played in 156 or more games in ten of the eleven full seasons. The guy has moved from 2B to SS to 3B to DH/ part time 1B all for the best interest of the team. And now the Rangers want him to leave. To me, that is a sign of disrespect and Michael Young has every right to be upset with this. Even though he probably never say it. Texas Rangers: Michael Young has earned the right to choose where he would like to be traded to. As the Rangers have decided they no longer want him, he has ten/ five rights, so he has earned the right to veto a trade. In addition to the nearly 200 games, he has DHed, Young has played 792 games at SS, 446 at 2B, 358 at 3B and 77 at 1B. a seven time All Star, 6 times of 200+ hits and a lifetime .300+ hitter deserves to be treated better than the Rangers have treated Michael Young. Shame on the Texas Rangers.
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