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Infielder Michael Young fittingly announced his retirement in a Texas Rangers uniform Friday, after playing 14 seasons in the major leagues, 13 of those with the Rangers.

Young spent his first 13 seasons in Texas, before suiting up for the Phillies and Dodgers in 2013. It was a final chapter that most Rangers fans would rather forget, and Friday’s announcement provided a more palatable ending.

Young was never a superstar, but from 2003 to 2011 he didn’t once finish with a batting average below .284, and he topped the .300 mark seven times in those nine years.

Even more impressive than his ability to pile up singles and doubles was Young’s ability to stay on the field. During that aforementioned nine-year stretch, he logged 155 games or more eight times.

Given Young’s durability and his skill at spraying line drives all over the field, it should come as no surprise that he holds the Rangers all-time records in a number of categories. His notable team records include hits (2,230), doubles (415), triples (55), total bases (3,286), runs (1,085), games (1,823) and at-bats (7,399).

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The Boston Red Sox have several decisions to make this offseason in the wake of their World Series victory against the St. Louis Cardinals, but luckily for them, there don’t appear to be too many major issues for them this winter.

Sure, Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Napoli are free agents, but the Red Sox presumably have the cash to be in on each of the players until they decide where they’d like to sign. If nothing else, expect the Red Sox to drive up their price for other teams.

Most of Boston’s offseason thus far has been comprised of rumors behind the dish, and that’s an area that will need to be addressed by spring training.

Multiple reports would suggest that they’re on their way to doing so.

The Catching Conundrum

Jarrod Saltalamacchia is one of Boston’s free agents, though he’ll be courted by multiple teams this offseason. 

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com believes that the Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies or Toronto Blue Jays could make a run at Salty, with the Red Sox of course being the in the mix as well. Heyman cites options like A.J. Pierzynski and Dioner Navarro as possibilities for Boston as well, but general manager Ben Cherington may have other ideas for a backstop.

Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports that the Red Sox have discussed opening the season with Ryan Lavarnway splitting time behind the plate with 37-year-old David Ross. This would be done in the hopes of using them as stopgap options until prospects Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart are ready to compete at the major league level.

Saltalamacchia put together arguably his most consistent season in 2013, hitting .273/.338/.466 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI. The in-house options presented by Lauber likely wouldn’t be able to equal that production.

Michael Young

Infielder Michael Young appears to be interested in joining an American League East club, as Peter Gammons reports that the 37-year-old is interested in joining either the Red Sox or Baltimore Orioles.

It’s unclear as to whether or not the teams have expressed interest in him, but it seems as if he’d be more than willing should the teams go after him. For a team like the Red Sox, Young would be a quality super-utility infielder that could find his way into semi-regular at-bats at third base.

Will Middlebrooks was nothing special last season, and Xander Bogaerts took at-bats away from him late in the season. If Stephen Drew leaves via free agency, Bogaerts could slide over to short and surrender third to Middlebrooks.

Young would give them a quality backup plan.

A team-friendly one-year deal would likely be reached with Young, and there really isn’t a downside to bringing him aboard. Maybe Gammons‘ tweet will spark some interest.

Patience with Mike Napoli

The Red Sox will have a huge hole at first base if they don’t re-sign Mike Napoli, and Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that they plan on being patient in their pursuit of him this winter.

After signing a one-year deal with Boston last offseason, Napoli more than earned the right to seek a multiyear deal during the season. He hit .259/.360/.482 with 23 home runs and 92 RBI in the middle of the lineup, and he could likely reel in a deal similar to Jhonny Peralta’s on the open market.

In his stead, the Red Sox could convert outfielder Daniel Nava to first base. That wouldn’t be ideal, however, as Napoli is actually a very good defensive first baseman and supplies much more pop to the lineup.

Coming off a World Series win, the Red Sox would be wise to bring back Napoli. He made an impact on the lineup and in the clubhouse, and those types of players are few and far between.

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The Philadelphia Phillies traded for Michael Young this past offseason in hopes that he could fuel a return to the playoffs. With the Phillies’ playoff hopes fading, though, the Philadelphia front office made the decision to deal the popular third baseman to Los Angeles.

FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal had the news:

Young spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Texas Rangers, but with players like Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus, Ian Kinsler and Jurickson Profar standing in his way, the Rangers thought that the best move for everyone involved was trading Young away. While Young has been a full-time starter for the Phillies, their season hasn’t gone as well as originally hoped.

The blame doesn’t fall on Young’s shoulders, though, as he has had a strong season in the National League. Young isn’t going to hit .330 or mash 20 homers in a season at this point in his career, but he is a serviceable player still, hitting a solid .272 with eight home runs and 41 RBI so far this season.

In addition to his experience, Young is incredibly valuable because of his versatility. His skill set allows him to hit pretty much anywhere in the order as he can man the No. 2 hole, thrive low in the lineup or even be a middle-of-the-order guy in a pinch.

Young can also play a number of different positions, which should come in handy down the stretch. The California native has primarily played third base this season, but he has gotten in a few games at first, and he also has a lot of experience playing up the middle at second base and shortstop. It’s unlikely that Young will be asked to play middle infield on a regular basis, but he can get the job done if needed.

There is no denying that Young is the ideal acquisition for a team that is trying to make a World Series run as he is willing to do anything in order to win. Young fell just short of winning the World Series on two occasions with the Rangers, and his opportunities to win it all are dwindling as he is 36 years of age.

He probably won’t provide All-Star level production moving forward, but he is capable of turning it up a couple notches. Young has six career 200-hit seasons to his credit, which is a testament to his scrappiness and his ability to battle at the plate.

Young is never an easy out, and that is something that will come in handy once October rolls around. His career playoff numbers are fairly nondescript at .248 with three home runs and 19 RBI, but he has really only had two playoff runs. The Rangers technically made the playoffs last season, but they were out after one game as the Baltimore Orioles ousted them in the wild card game.

He is obviously hoping to last a bit longer this year as he seeks his first World Series ring. In addition, Young is playing for a new contract. He is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of the season, and a big performance down the stretch could potentially net him a multi-year deal.

Young may not be the same player he once was, but he is still very useful. Look for him to prove that moving forward, and expect him to parlay that into a nice contract during the offseason.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

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The Philadelphia Phillies have to trade Michael Young. 

They just called up elite prospect Cody Asche, who just so happens to play third base, Young’s primary position in Philly. And you don’t bring up a guy like Asche—.295/.352/.485 with 15 homers, 68 RBI and 11 steals in Triple-A this year—if he’s not going to play full time. 

The Phillies have lost eight in a row, dropping them to 49-56 on the season, 11.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and even further out in the wild-card race. They have fallen into seller’s territory.

And Young, who becomes a free agent after the season, has no real future in Philadelphia and could potentially bring a mid-level prospect back in return, is the perfect player to sell. 

There’s no reason not to trade him. 

Unfortunately for the Phils, Young has a no-trade clause in his contract, giving him all of the leverage in the situation. Moreover, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the former Texas Ranger (not that Texas Ranger) is planning on using every bit of that leverage:

It was reported a few days by MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan that a Young-to-the-Rangers deal was “not going to happen,” but with this news, why wouldn’t Jon Daniels at least make an inquiry? 

Young, who spent his first 13 seasons with the Rangers, is a fan favorite in Arlington. He has a home there, his family there and is undeniably comfortable playing there. 

Is the 36-year-old the player he used to be? Absolutely not. He’s hitting .277/.342/.402/.743, and defensively is a far cry from the Gold Glover he was in 2008. Still, he would serve as an upgrade over the Rangers’ current DH situation, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram‘s Jeff Wilson:

For a team that is six games behind the Oakland Athletics in the AL West, adding Young would be the type of low-key move capable of making a significant difference.

Which is bad news for the Phillies. 

The Rangers could offer as little as they wanted, and if Young’s ultimatum is true, the Phils have two choices: accept the offer or lose Young in the offseason for nothing. 

The Rangers could offer a turkey sandwich, and the Phils would be inclined to take it (although that’s neither here nor there because turkey sandwiches are awesome). 

That being said, there could be a little leeway, according to the New York Post‘s Joel Sherman:

It will still be tough to get top dollar for Young, but adding the Boston Red Sox to the mix would at least give Ruben Amaro, Jr. a little bit of the leverage back. 

Nevertheless, the Phillies are in a difficult situation as the trade deadline approaches and the options—Young either sits behind Asche or is traded for pennies on the dollar—are continuing to dwindle quickly. 

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As the 2013 Major League Baseball trade deadline is just over 24 hours away, the Philadelphia Phillies have several key decisions to make about some core players on their roster. 

About two weeks ago, the Phillies found themselves in pretty good position to make a postseason run, as they were within shouting distance of the Atlanta Braves and the National League East lead. 

However, two weeks and an eight game losing streak later, the Phils are a whopping 11.5 games behind the Braves, as well as nine games back of the Cincinnati Reds for a Wild Card spot. 

With an aging and injury-plagued roster, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has some major decisions to make within the next day that may decide the future of his organization.

Superstars such as Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon and Michael Young may wind up on the trading block throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon. 

With that said, let’s take a look at three possible deals that Philadelphia could and should make by Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. 

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Philadelphia Phillies infielder Michael Young may be dealt at any moment, but the veteran’s destination is unclear.

A move appears imminent, though, as the Phillies announced Tuesday afternoon that the team was promoting Cody Asche from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Asche isn’t getting the call to sit on the bench, as Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer thinks he’ll be starting, and if Young stays past tomorrow, he’ll be the backup.

Young is hitting .277/.342/.402 with seven home runs and 32 RBI through 98 games for the Phillies this year. He can play any infield position and could serve as a designated hitter as well. All signs point to him playing for an American League contender for the last two months of the season.

If the Phillies are planning on trading Young in the next few hours—or just before Major League Baseball’s deadline tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET—Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that he isn’t going to be headed to the Bronx:

If not New York, then where will Young be playing for the rest of the 2013 season? Well, he has a full no-trade clause in his contract, and that makes things a little bit tricky. But by calling up Asche, the Phillies may now have some leverage on the veteran. He might rather be traded than sit on the bench going forward.

Let’s examine two of the potential destinations for Young.

Texas Rangers

Young played for the Rangers from 2000 through last season, and it seems likely that he’d be open to returning to Texas. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports says that if Young is going to waive his no-trade clause, it’ll only be to head back to the Rangers:

Texas doesn’t have any immediate openings in its infield, and as I mentioned in a recent article, it wouldn’t make much sense to play him over Mitch Moreland at first base. That being said, the Rangers could use Young as the regular designated hitter, as Lance Berkman is currently on the disabled list.

If that’s the case, Jurickson Profar—who has played all over the place this season—could go back to the outfield. While he only has four games of big-league experience outside of the infield, David Murphy hasn’t shown that he’s worthy of a starting position. Profar could head to left field for the remainder of the year.

The Rangers just need to focus on getting someone who can provide some power to the position. Of the teams in the American League, Texas has the fewest home runs from the designated hitter’s spot with six. Young only has seven homers on the year, and it doesn’t appear that he’s going to be a power threat with Texas.

There are better options available in the next day or so than Young. While I’m sure the Rangers are flattered that he’d be interested in making a comeback with the club, he just doesn’t fit what they need right now. Unless he wants to be an option on the bench, he shouldn’t want to go to Texas. Texas shouldn’t really want him either.

Boston Red Sox

While Rosenthal noted that Young would only be willing to waive his full no-trade clause to return to the Rangers, some reporters have heard otherwise. Sherman, for one, reports that Young would likely waive it to go to the Red Sox as well:

Young would likely be Boston’s third baseman going forward if he went there. The Red Sox started the season with Will Middlebrooks at third base, but he got injured and hit poorly in his limited time with the team. In 53 games with the Red Sox, he hit .192/.228/.389 with nine homers and 25 RBI.

Boston has gone with Jose Iglesias at third base since Middlebrooks’ demotion to Triple-A and was playing quite well. From April through June—a stretch of 39 games—the infielder hit .409/.455/.530 with 12 extra-base hits and 23 runs. In July, he’s hitting .200/.244/.213 and could end up losing his starting job.

The Red Sox have a couple options regarding the third base spot in the lineup. Boston could keep going with Iglesias at third for the rest of the year, go with someone like Brandon Snyder, recall Middlebrooks, promote someone like Xander Bogaerts or make a deal to trade for someone like Young.

Young probably won’t cost the Red Sox a ton to acquire, which is one reason the team might see it as a risk worth taking. As long as he hits better than Iglesias has in recent weeks, it’ll be a win for the team. If he doesn’t work out, the Red Sox let him go at the end of the season knowing they only lost a low-level prospect.

All statistics in this article were obtained via FanGraphs unless otherwise noted and are current through July 29. All contract information in this article was obtained via Cot’s Contracts and all injury information was obtained via Baseball Prospectus.

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With less than 10 days until the trade deadline, the New York Yankees continue to hover above .500, but are seven games back in the AL East and 3.5 games behind the Orioles for the second wild card spot.

This is the time that Brian Cashman usually pulls a rabbit out of his hat by acquiring a player who helps take the Yankees on another playoff ride.

That’s why I titled this article “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.”

Sure, the piece mimics the title from a mediocre, year-old movie, starring a beautiful cast consisting of Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez and Brooklyn Decker. But this rom-com truly depicts the puzzling question that most Yankee fans are dealing with.

The Yankees have to make a blockbuster trade, right?

Back in 2006, the Yankees made a splash by bringing in Bobby Abreu in a seven-player deal. Cashman traded for Xavier Nady and Ivan Rodriguez in 2008. In 2010, New York brought in Lance Berkman and Kerry Wood to bolster the lineup and bullpen. Last season, with a week remaining before the deadline, Cashman traded for Ichiro Suzuki to aid an ailing outfield.

History shows that when the Yankees have needed late-season help, Cashman has managed to give his team the necessary boost.

But this season, the Yankees need more than a boost.

Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez have both suffered setbacks in their rehab; Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis are both out for the season. Curtis Granderson should be back soon, but it is doubtful he will contribute quickly to the lineup after breaking his hand yet again.

If the Yankees want to grab a postseason spot, they will need to bring in more bats. There are plenty of players out there that could revive the lineup: Alex Rios, Michael Young and Jonathan Lucroy are names that come to mind as guys who could be dealt.

But here’s the million-dollar question: What’s the cost?

Now I’m going to say something that most Yankee fans don’t want to hear. This team is old and ailing and the stars are only getting older. Sure, the pitching staff and Robinson Cano may be keeping New York in contention for a playoff spot, but I’m not putting any money on a deep playoff run.

I’m not pronouncing New York as a seller, but more like a cautious buyer. What do I mean by that? Bringing in a Rios or Young might not be worth what New York would send back. Buy at a bargain; sell if the offer is too sweet to pass up.

It’s a tough thing to swallow, especially for someone who was born into the Jeter, Rivera, Pettitte and Posada era, but the Yankees need to start moving out with the old and in with the youth. 

Maybe it means trading Robinson Cano for some blue-chip prospects or swapping a starter like Phil Hughes for a young hitter. The Yankees also have a plethora of bullpen arms that could be shopped around. The good news is there are plenty of options out there.

Does Cashman believe a player or two now is worth a couple prospects for the future? Or will selling now lead to a brighter future?  It all depends on how Cashman sees his team right now.

What should we expect when we’re expecting?

Yankee fans expect championships, not just playoff appearances. Maybe playing it safe this year could help bring our lofty expectations to a more rapid reality. I’m not suggesting the Yankees won’t do anything—I’m just warning you that they might not do much.

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If the Boston Red Sox have the opportunity to upgrade at third base with Michael Young, general manager Ben Cherington needs to make that happen.

The Philadelphia Phillies haven’t had the first half they were hoping for, as they’re currently 9.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and five games under .500. If the Phillies don’t get better soon, general manger Ruben Amaro could be forced to deal some of the organization’s top players.

While it’s still unclear if guys like Cliff Lee and Jonathan Papelbon will be on the trade block this summer, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that one player who is likely to get dealt is Young. The shortstop-turned-third-baseman is currently in the final year of his contract with the Phillies.

If Young does become available, expect the Red Sox be making some calls to Amaro’s office. An industry source told George A. King III of the New York Post that, “They want him badly.” This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as Boston has been watching Will Middlebrooks fall on his face for most of the season.

In 53 games, Middlebrooks was hitting .192/.228/.389 with nine home runs, 25 RBI and a 27.8 percent strikeout rate. He was basically forcing Boston’s hand to send him down. After a brief stint on the disabled list, the Red Sox gave the third baseman a few more tries at bouncing back.

He failed.

Boston sent Middlebrooks down to the minors on June 25 and there is no indication as to when he’ll be back in the big leagues, if at all, this season. The main reason is because Jose Iglesias has done a fantastic job filling in. Iglesias is really a shortstop, but took the new opportunity in stride and has really succeeded.

Through 39 games, Iglesias is hitting .409/.455/.530 with one home run, nine RBI and 23 runs. But the best part about Iglesias is that he’s been phenomenal defensively. The guy had played third base, like, never before a few weeks ago. He makes plays in his sleep that Middlebrooks couldn’t make on his best day.

But if Boston is going to go after Young, Iglesias won’t be out of a job. Instead, Boston could start Iglesias at shortstop—his natural position—and have Stephen Drew, who’s signed to a one-year deal—come off the bench. Drew is basically only good for his defense anyways.

Drew is sporting a .233/.313/.409 slash line in 66 games with five homers and 31 RBI. No one expects him to hit for average in 2013. While Boston already has the best offense in baseball in terms of WAR, per FanGraphs, adding a better bat couldn’t hurt.

While Young hasn’t been too sharp at third base this year for the Phillies defensively, he has been a big part of the team’s offense. He’s hitting .287/.344/.409 with five home runs and 21 RBI. While that’s somewhat close to what Drew has done, I’d rather have the guy that gets more hits and is on base more often than the guy who won’t commit an error.

It wouldn’t be a costly expenditure for Boston either, as Philly shouldn‘t demand much in return. Young is owed $16 million this season and the Rangers are paying $10 million of it, according to Cot’s Contracts. That means that the Phillies only owe $6 million and since the year is halfway complete, only around $3 million is left to be paid Young’s way.

That’s chump change for the Red Sox.

The real person that Cherington will be keeping an eye on while monitoring Young’s availability is Middlebrooks. In 10 games with Triple-A Pawtucket, he’s hitting .289/.386/.605 with four home runs, 11 RBI and just six strikeouts. That’s certainly improvement, but it’s anyone’s guess how that’ll translate in Boston.

Right now, Middlebrooks has yet to prove that he can be an every day third baseman in the major leagues. He’s been horrible this year and hasn’t earned a second chance yet. It’s Iglesias‘s and Drew’s jobs to lose at the moment and, in my opinion, Middlebrooks’ minor league numbers shouldn’t threaten them.

The Red Sox need to put the best combination of players in the lineup in order to stay atop the AL East and try to make the postseason. That combination doesn’t include Middlebrooks. In the coming weeks, it might not even include Drew. Iglesias is the only one that is 100 percent keeping his job.

If Middlebrooks starts to slump in the minors or gets called up and starts striking out twice per game, expect a big move from the Red Sox. Acquiring Young would send a message to Middlebrooks that he must improve or he’s not going to have a job in the future. It’s very simple to understand.

For the time being, there’s no hurt in trading to acquire Young. At least he gives the Red Sox some leeway in case Drew or Iglesias gets injured in the second half. Consider him a $3 million insurance plan. He’s a good hitter who will help the Red Sox win games. That’s all that should matter to Cherington and Boston right now.

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There is a unique feeling for Philadelphia fans entering the 2013 season.  Much of the talent that helped the team win 102 games in 2011 remains, but the bitter taste of the 2012 season remains strong.  Ruben Amaro has quietly filled the team’s needs, avoiding the flashy free-agent signing or blockbuster trade that has marked seasons past.  The team appears poised to compete, but there is more uncertainty surrounding this team than there has been in many years.

With the competition growing increasingly fierce, the Phillies will need to perform up to potential all season long to have a chance to compete in the NL East.  A lot can happen over the course of 162 games and this slideshow will outline some of the key events that I believe will mark the upcoming season.

So without further ado, here are my 7 bold predictions for the Phillies’ 2013 season.

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The Texas Rangers have reportedly traded infielder/DH Michael Young to the Philadelphia Phillies for reliever Josh Lindblom and minor league pitcher Lisalverto Bonilla, according to a tweet by MLB.com’s TR Sullivan.

Lindblom, Bonilla for Young as trade is done wp.me/p1rXwL-8WpT

— TR Sullivan (@Sullivan_Ranger) December 8, 2012

The trade was confirmed a few minutes later in a separate tweet by MLB.com.

Source tells @sullivan_ranger that @phillies will send RHPs Lindblom, Bonilla to @rangers for Michael Young: atmlb.com/SVv8g2

— MLB (@MLB) December 8, 2012

The Phillies will install Young as their starting third baseman, while the Rangers add depth to their pitching at the minor and major league levels. It was a great move by one team and a bit of a head-scratcher for the other.

Click through to see who are the immediate winners and losers of the Michael Young trade

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