The Rangers and Phillies are talking about a trade involving infielder Michael Young, sources confirmed yesterday.
According to ESPN.com, the Rangers would be paying at least half of Young’s $16 million salary if the deal is done. Texas could receive some bullpen help or prospects.
But no deal can happen without Young’s approval. He has played his entire career in Texas and has 10-5 rights (10 years in the majors, at least five with the same team), meaning he must sign off on any deal. It’s unknown whether he’ll do that.
Young, 36, could see his playing time reduced depending on how the Rangers’ offseason progresses. If the club doesn’t trade any of its infielders and decides to make Jurickson Profar an everyday player, that could shift Ian Kinsler to first base or the outfield, cutting into Young’s at-bats.
Young, 36, could see his playing time reduced depending on how the Rangers’ offseason progresses. If the club doesn’t trade any of its infielders and decides to make Jurickson Profar an everyday player, that could shift Ian Kinsler to first base or the outfield, cutting into Young’s at-bats.
Young, who would play third base for the Phillies, hit .277 with eight homers and 67 RBIs in 651 plate appearances in 2012. It was his lowest batting average since 2002, his first full season in the big leagues.
* The Phillies acquired center fielder Ben Revere from the Twins for right-handers Vance Worley and Trevor May.
The 24-year-old Revere is expected to be Philadelphia’s answer in center. He batted .294 with 40 stolen bases in 124 games last season.
* Reliever Koji Uehara reached an agreement with the Red Sox, pending a physical.
The 37-year-old right-hander spent the last two seasons with Texas. He had a 1.75 ERA in 37 relief appearances last season, holding batters to a .160 average.
* Free-agent first baseman James Loney and the Rays completed their $2 million, one-year contract.
Loney, 28, started last season with the Dodgers, then was traded to Boston in July as part of the Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett deal.
* The Twins agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Jared Burton on a two-year, $5.5 million contract that includes a club option for the 2015 season.
Burton, 31, had five saves and a 2.18 ERA in 62 innings with 16 walks and 55 strikeouts in 2012, his first seeason with Minnesota.
* Catcher Wil Nieves and the Diamondbacks completed their $800,000, one-year contract. Nieves, 35, wasn’t tendered a contract by Arizona last week.
He batted .306 with a home run and three RBIs in 16 games this season.
* Third baseman Ian Stewart said he is re-signing with the Cubs for one year at $2 million if he makes the opening-day roster. He batted .201 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 55 games before having season-ending left wrist surgery.
The Cubs also announced they will introduce reliever Kyuji Fujikawa at a news conference today. He agreed to a $9.5 million, two-year deal last weekend.
* Reed Johnson, the top pinch hitter in the NL last season, rejoined the Braves with a one-year deal that includes a club option for 2014.