Michael Young asks for trade.

[CubColtPacer]

Some dude on XM this morning suggested a Soriano for Young trade.

 

He said he's just thinking outloud --- it's not as much as a rumor.

 

It's too bad that Soriano has that NTC, otherwise I'd love to see this 3 way deal:

 

Baltimore gets Michael Young and Felix Pie

Texas gets Alfonso Soriano

Cubs get Brian Roberts and Garrett Olson

 

Baltimore can afford the contract and aren't they in dire need of a SS? Texas must be able to afford the contract, since Young's contract practically mirrors Soriano's. Cubs sign Roberts to an extension and then include Olson in a deal for Peavy.

 

There's just this one slight problem. Soriano's NTC.

 

Baltimore wants a defense first SS which is why they signed Izturis. They'd love to find a defense first SS that could also hit, but I doubt they'd be interested in Young even if the Rangers were willing to give him away. Plus MacPhail does not like big contracts like that especially to players who do not fit the skill set he likes.

At the least, they certainly wouldn't flip Roberts for Young. They'd much rather take the draft picks after Roberts plays another year and build from within if they can't find a great deal for him.

[badnews]

Brian Roberts has never in his career done anything impressive after the All-Star Break. It's always a good first half and then put 'er in cruise control for that .760 OPS. The Cubs probably need a guy who doesn't crap out toward the end.

[jersey cubs fan]

Brian Roberts has never in his career done anything impressive after the All-Star Break. It's always a good first half and then put 'er in cruise control for that .760 OPS. The Cubs probably need a guy who doesn't crap out toward the end.

 

I'm less concerned with the 2nd half swoons than I am with his age. He's already 31 and very few middle infielders maintain their game into their mid-30's. Guys that do are generally corner players and pitchers. It's possible he won't decline for a while, but considering they'd almost be forced to sign him to an extension if they traded for him, a contract that would pay him into his mid-to-late 30's, he's just not that attractive of a target. Had they trade for him last year, and gotten two seasons out of him, great. But it's not like he's some superstar, he's got a career OPS+ barely over 100. And with a game that relies heavily on his legs, I'm not that optimistic about him maintaining the recent levels for much longer.

[YearofDaCubs]

So much for that :) Probably realized there was no way he was getting traded.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090115&content_id=3745615&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex&partnerId=rss_tex

[TruffleShuffle]

andrus is coming up to play shortstop this year? i have a feeling he's going to be a terrible hitter, at least this year.