Would you make this deal?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd have more interest in Young, if I knew Darren O'Day would be coming along with him.

[Backtobanks]

From MLBTR:

 

Rangers Still Asking A Lot For Michael Young

By Tim Dierkes [March 14 at 9:34am CST]

The Rangers still want top prospects in return for infielder Michael Young, reports ESPN's Buster Olney, and "don't want to eat as much of the $48 million still owed to Young over the next three years." Olney's sources view Young as a $6-7MM player (presumably per year) as opposed to the $16MM per year he's owed. The Diamondbacks reportedly expressed interest in Young in the first week in March, and other teams have come up in a speculative sense, but there seems to be a gulf between the Rangers' perception of Young's value and that of possible suitors.

 

The Rangers are delusional.

[davell]

Only the Rangers and Michael Young know if they truly HAVE to trade him. If so, they've got another couple of weeks to get something done. If they're not happy with the offers they're receiving, making a statement and leaking it to the press isn't going to hurt things and could even scare a team into upping their offer a tad.

 

I'm pretty sure the Rangers know that in this current economic state, they've way overpaid Young. They just have to figure out if it's truly worth it to them to drop him and still have him on the books as well. The return will almost definitely depend on how much money is being covered by the team they're trading with.

[Post Count Padder]

I just vomited up my dinner. Warning:

 

Scouts tell Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune that the Rangers are "eying" Andrew Cashner in any trade talk about Michael Young.

The Cubs are apparently "down" on Blake DeWitt at second base, though they'd likely want the Rangers to eat some of his salary. This is likely speculation on the part of Rogers, but he mentions that the Cubs could consider moving Carlos Marmol to the Rangers if Neftali Feliz is happy as a starting pitcher. Anything is possible, but it's hard to see the Cubs doing this much just to acquire a 34-year-old who is massively overpaid in relation to his contributions on the field.

[CUBZ99]

Yikes! Did anybody else see Phil Rogers tweets this afternoon regarding the Cubs and Rangers trade talks.

 

First this gem.

 

ChiTribRogers Scouts says #Rangers are eyeing Andrew Cashner in any Michael Young talk #Cubs. Feliz happy as starter could put Carlos Marmol in play.

 

And if that wasn't bad enough about 30 mins ago he tweeted.

 

Hard to see #Cubs trading Marmol but you never know. These teams are shaky fit but #Cubs are down on Blake DeWitt as answer at 2nd base.

 

I hope he has no inside info and it is merely ridiculous speculation.

[Rob]

I'd be forced to murder Jim Hendry if he gave up Cashner for Young.

[dew1679666265]

With the exception of the Cubs souring on DeWitt, everything sounds like speculation. I'd think he'd throw in a "according to Cubs sources" or "a Cubs official said" or something like that if it was more than speculation.

 

That said, it may just be purely hope that I'm seeing that as speculation because pretty much any trade based on Marmol for Young would be a horrid trade. Do the Rangers have any elite prospects we could demand? For instance:

 

Marmol + DeWitt for Young + O'Day + Chris Davis + A-level prospect

[Guest]

Remember that other scoop that Phil Rogers was right about? Me either.

[dew1679666265]

I'd be forced to murder Jim Hendry if he gave up Cashner for Young.

 

Shades of Victor Zambrano for Scott Kazmir, except probably worse.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I just vomited up my dinner. Warning:

 

Scouts tell Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune that the Rangers are "eying" Andrew Cashner in any trade talk about Michael Young.

The Cubs are apparently "down" on Blake DeWitt at second base, though they'd likely want the Rangers to eat some of his salary. This is likely speculation on the part of Rogers, but he mentions that the Cubs could consider moving Carlos Marmol to the Rangers if Neftali Feliz is happy as a starting pitcher. Anything is possible, but it's hard to see the Cubs doing this much just to acquire a 34-year-old who is massively overpaid in relation to his contributions on the field.

 

If by Michael Young they mean Josh Hamilton, Id be all for it.

[CubsWin]

I just vomited up my dinner. Warning:

 

Scouts tell Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune that the Rangers are "eying" Andrew Cashner in any trade talk about Michael Young.

The Cubs are apparently "down" on Blake DeWitt at second base, though they'd likely want the Rangers to eat some of his salary. This is likely speculation on the part of Rogers, but he mentions that the Cubs could consider moving Carlos Marmol to the Rangers if Neftali Feliz is happy as a starting pitcher. Anything is possible, but it's hard to see the Cubs doing this much just to acquire a 34-year-old who is massively overpaid in relation to his contributions on the field.

It said the Rangers want Cashner, not that the Cubs were considering dealing him for Young. That just means that the Rangers aren't dumb. Crazy yes, but not dumb...

[Sammy Sofa]

I had somehow never noticed that Young is 35.

 

Do not want.

[CUBZ99]

ChiTribRogers To clarify, not saying #Cubs will do Cashner or Marmol. Just that they are guys #Rangers want if they take big $$ guy back or send $$ w/MY.

[NCCubFan]

I'd be forced to murder Jim Hendry if he gave up Cashner for Young.

It would be justifiable homicide, not murder. You'd get a ticker-tape parade.

[pitchcs]

Reading back a couple pages here, do some of you really have any sort of expectations for Blake DeWitt?? I mean seriously...? Did you watch this guy at all? He's not good, will never be very good and really has no business starting at 2B for the Cubs.

 

If you think DeWitt can even approach the realm of what Michael Young did in his career then you should probably just stop trying.

[Sammy Sofa]

Oh, you're so pretty.

 

You realize nobody is saying that he's definitely going to be Young, right? There's a big world between that and saying, "DeWitt is still young and still cheap and could very well be productive, either on his own or in a platoon, or at least productive enough until a better candidate comes along (ie-someone not nearly as expensive and an as old as Michael Young)." The Cubs don't have to rush out and force a change at 2B right now if the right option isn't there, and Michael Young is not the right option. A DeWitt/Baker platoon certainly won't be spectacular, but it almost certainly would at least be serviceable.

Edited March 15, 2011 by Sammy Sofa

[davell]

I'd bet the Cubs are thinking more about adding Luis Castillo, if he gets released, than they are about trading for Michael Young.

 

Castillo was awful last year, but fits the top of the order, one side of a platoon criteria that's been noted a few times this offseason. If the Cubs think he has something left, then I could see that happening.(although I'd be pretty shocked if DeWitt wouldn't outproduce him over the course of a season by a solid amount)

 

Another reason I don't see us going after Young is 2B(or SS possibly if we move Castro to 2B) is because we can probably do better next offseason.

 

Aaron Hill could be available, either thru trade or FA depending on if his option gets picked up. Kelly Johnson will be a cheap, stop gap type guy that's available. Could work perfectly in a case where we think LeMahieu is the eventual answer.

 

Then, there are 2 SS's that could possibly switch positions and fill our "leadoff" hole we evidently think we have: Furcal and Reyes. Furcal is older and definitely injury-prone, but he seems like a guy Hendry would target if we also acquire a true middle of the order hitter as well. Someone who conceivably is a tablesetter and could be had on a short term deal, possibly with incentives.......

 

Reyes, on the other hand, could very well wind up as THE big acquisition for us(if he has a solid season in 2011, his pricetag is going to be huge) if we miss out on the middle of the order hitters. I'd hope we'd stand pat and not spend big money on him, but I could see it happening. On the other hand, if we got a middle of the order hitter AND Reyes as well, count me in......

[Guest]

I never noticed/forgot that DeWitt has a reverse platoon split. Thats....annoying.

[Elrhino]

I've been down in Arizona for the last week, and Chris Davis is just obliterating the baseball at the moment. What's more, he's been playing a pretty decent 3rd base to go along with a very stellar glove at 1st. I don't see how they can send him back to the minors, but they definitely have a log jam between Young, Davis, Mitch Moreland and Mike Napoli all vying for at bats at 1B and DH. Oh, and their pitching looks absolutely horrendous, and they could desperately use an end of the rotation innings eater. It would seem there should be some kind of swap that makes sense for both clubs, I just can't pinpoint what exactly it is.

[davearm2]

I've been down in Arizona for the last week, and Chris Davis is just obliterating the baseball at the moment. What's more, he's been playing a pretty decent 3rd base to go along with a very stellar glove at 1st. I don't see how they can send him back to the minors, but they definitely have a log jam between Young, Davis, Mitch Moreland and Mike Napoli all vying for at bats at 1B and DH. Oh, and their pitching looks absolutely horrendous, and they could desperately use an end of the rotation innings eater. It would seem there should be some kind of swap that makes sense for both clubs, I just can't pinpoint what exactly it is.

Although I'm interested, I'm not sure the situation is all that much better here: Aramis Ramirez and Pena entrenched (albeit for just a year), Max Ramirez and Baker available, and no DH in play.

[Rob]

I don't know if Max Ramirez has options left. He may be getting taken off the 40 man if he doesn't make the team. And Jeff Baker isn't really an option if it means facing righties.

 

We may be able to carry Davis as a 1B/3B backup and big bat off the bench.

[Post Count Padder]

Luis Castillo was released today. Think the Cubs take a chance?

[davell]

Going with 12 pitchers, we'll have Hill, Baker, one of Barney or Ojeda, one of Fukudome or Colvin, and one of Reed Johnson or Perez as our 5 bench guys. Only way we could acquire Davis is if we decided that a true 5th OFer isn't needed. My honest guess is they WANT Perez to win the job, because he has some speed and could be valuable in late and close situations as a pinch runner possibly.

 

I'd like Davis, if he came cheap, just don't see where he'd fit on our roster though.

 

 

As for Ramirez, he's out of options and I'd bet when we put him on waivers, we're going to lose him.

[Post Count Padder]

Going with 12 pitchers, we'll have Hill, Baker, one of Barney or Ojeda, one of Fukudome or Colvin, and one of Reed Johnson or Perez as our 5 bench guys. Only way we could acquire Davis is if we decided that a true 5th OFer isn't needed. My honest guess is they WANT Perez to win the job, because he has some speed and could be valuable in late and close situations as a pinch runner possibly.

 

I'd like Davis, if he came cheap, just don't see where he'd fit on our roster though.

 

 

As for Ramirez, he's out of options and I'd bet when we put him on waivers, we're going to lose him.

Even with their surplus, the Rangers wouldn't just give Davis away, especially now that he's crushing the ball. Wouldn't hurt to inquire, but I'm not for giving up much for a bench player.

[Rob]

Luis Castillo was released today. Think the Cubs take a chance?

 

I'd bet we've had scouts keeping an eye on him the last couple weeks. If we really are that down on DeWitt, he's almost certainly a better option than just handing the job to Baker.