Michael Young Trade Talk Won't Go Away

Rangers president Nolan Ryan said last week that Michael Young was going to be their designated hitter on Opening Day.

Not everyone is listening to the message. For what feels like the hundredth time this offseason, there's a report that the Rangers are looking to trade Young before April rolls around. It's Buster Olney of ESPN banging the drum this time and he's pegged the Rockies as a potential destination.

That makes some sense. The Rockies have a clutch of players to use at second or third base, but it isn't like Jose Lopez, Ian Stewart, Ty Wigginton or Eric Young qualifies as an immovable object. Colorado could put Michael Young at either position, though staying at third base seems the best choice, while figuring out the other spot however they see fit.

There are other options as a destination. The Angels come to mind, although teams don't always like to deal within divisions, and the Tigers might also make some sense. But any time the Young trade talks rear their head, we find ourselves coming back to the same green-colored stumbling block.

Young is due $48 million over the next three years and that is simply too much money for a player at his age and ability level. There is little chance that the Rangers could find a trading partner for Young unless they are either willing to take another awful contract back in return or if they eat a healthy portion of the deal to facilitate the movement.

Would they do that? Perhaps, but the deal would have to be good enough for them to give up a player who is still useful and in their plans while keeping a serious financial obligation on the books. They'd be silly not to listen to people kicking the tires on Young, but it still seems unlikely that there's a deal right around the corner.