Michael Young might want out of Texas, and there's been no shortage of trade rumors surrounding him and the Rangers. However, none of those trade rumors have come to fruition, and at this point the chances of a deal are looking pretty slim. Says Jeff Wilson:
#Rangers don't expect to be able to move Michael Young, a source says. Teams have inquired but feel set heading to spring camp.
T.R. Sullivan agrees with Wilson, writing that "the chance of Michael Young being traded [is] not good." The will is there, and plenty of teams have some degree of interest in taking on the disgruntled veteran, but the cost is proving too big of a hurdle. Other teams want the Rangers to eat much of the $48 million remaining on Young's contract, while the Rangers are holding out for a quality return. The Rockies are reportedly out of the race, and for some time they've looked like Young's most probable destination.
And so we're left facing the possibility that Young spends the season in Texas after throwing a fit and accusing the front office of lying. General manager Jon Daniels says that any trade would most likely happen before the team's first full-squad workout next Saturday, and that doesn't give him much time to work. That's awkward.
But this is what can happen when an overpaid player requests a trade. Young's been a leader much of his career and knows how to say all the right things, but in the event that he ends up sticking with Texas, there's going to be heat and media pressure on him from all sides. Needless to say, this isn't how anyone involved wanted to kick off a potential championship season.