The Diamondbacks have recently been in contact with the Texas Rangers about acquiring third baseman Michael Young, however it appears as though no serious talks have since proceeded. It was recently reported that the Rangers would be willing to pay half of his remaining $48 million contract, or $16 million per season through 2013.
If the Diamondbacks are serious about competing now, like they say they are, they should be making a legitimate play to get Michael Young, assuming that the price the Rangers are asking for will not deplete the farm system.
More than likely the inquiry was nothing more than Kevin Towers doing his due diligence and the next trade the Diamondbacks will make will be around the trade deadline.
While I don’t expect anything to happen, adding Michael Young to play 3B may just be the piece needed that would allow the Diamondbacks to compete in the NL West. Looking at their divisional opponents’ rosters, all have holes and question marks.
So before the Diamondbacks quickly dismiss the thought of paying Michael Young $8 million dollars to be on a team that won’t be competitive anyway, they need to ask themselves, what do the other teams in the NL West have that is so impressive?
Sure, there are a few teams with a couple star players, but could the Diamondbacks sum of their parts be greater than their whole? Possibly. We see it every year in baseball.
Michael Young could add a lot of value to the Diamondbacks. He’s a veteran; he’s got postseason experience; he’s a team player and willing to adapt, having moved from shortstop, to second base, to third base, while the Rangers kept acquiring players they thought were better, like Alex Rodriguez and Ian Kinsler.
It was only on the third time that the Rangers attempted to change Young’s position that he cried foul, when they wanted to move him from third base to DH to make room for Adrian Beltre.
Although Young is in the twilight of his career, he’s a reliable hitter who hasn’t hit under .284 since 2002, and is capable of hitting between 15-20 home runs. Defensively, he’s able to play 3 of the 4 infield positions which can give the team flexibility in the lineup.
Currently the highest paid player on the roster is Zach Duke at $4.3 million. With the Rangers paying half of Young’s salary it would only cost the Diamondbacks $8 million a year, the amount they paid Brandon Webb to try and rehab last season.
The Diamondbacks have the third lowest payroll in baseball, adding Michael Young would only put them as the sixth lowest, just slightly above the Florida Marlins and their grandiose payroll. So the question to the Diamondbacks is: do you really want to compete, or has the talk during spring training been nothing more than lip service?
Somehow, I think that we already know the answer.
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