Young is 34. His contract runs through 2013 at around 16 million per year, including 16 million in 2013, the year after the Astros would be rid of Lee. I am all for getting rid of Lee, but not at the expense of an aging, expensive player who has a comparable contract to Lee (plus a year longer).
I think it depends on what positions Young could play, and how much of a defensive liability he would be. If he can play 2B adequately, that gets you power out of a difficult position to find power from and gets a major defensive liability out of LF - a relatively easy position to fill with cheaper talent. If he could only play 3B or OF, then it's not nearly the same upgrade.
Carlos Lee has 381 more RBIs (1192 total) and 158 more homeruns (331 total) than Young. Young is four months younger.
Except, they might already have a similar guy in Bill Hall. It's also been 7 years since he played a game at 2B. Now if they could get the Rangers to pay his 2013 contract, I'd be for this deal.
Hmmm interesting, just read the following about Michael Young off ESPN. Cool that he has the Astros as a team he wouldn't mind getting traded to. Lee for Young straight-up would be a fair trade for both sides arguably, but I'm not sure if I want that extra year that is on Youngs contract.
But then why would the Rangers do it? I'd pull the trigger as is.. by all accounts, 2B is where he belongs at this point in his career (I guess the thought is that he still has the range but not the arm--he was never a super strong arm guy anyway). Most say he's done as a SS, so don't assume that's a position for him except in a pinch (i.e. Blum or something) I'd take him as a full-time 2B and open up LF for someone paid a lot less with some pop
But Bill Hall (a) isn't very good and (b) doesn't seem to be an everyday player. He'd had about 350 ABs each of the last 2 years after just being in the 400 AB range the previous few years. And all around, Michael Young is just a better hitter. If they were able to trade Lee-for-Young, I would then trade Bill Hall, or make him your super-sub that plays all the infield positions and LF/RF as necessary. Sure, you get one extra year of an ugly contract, but you also solve a long-standing issue at 2B for the next few years.
If they thought Lee was a better DH option than an unhappy Young I think they would consider it. If Young is happy and accepts his role and won't be detrimental to team chemistry, you are correct, there is no reason for them to do that deal. As long as last year was an aberration, Lee is a better DH than Young. If not, they are only stuck with him through 2012.
I believe the HOF always had final say, but always deferred to the player until the Boggs rumors surfaced.
I'd love to have Young at 2B for the next 3 years. Perfect move IMO to bridge the gap to Desheilds. Trading Lee also immediately makes 1B Wallace's job and leaves LF to go to BB.
If the trade with Young went down (which I know has a 0% chance of happening), wouldn't it just be logical to move Chris Johnson (a terrible defensive player) to LF and let Young play the 3b position he played well last year? It would be pretty dumb to move Bill Hall to the outfield considering that he plays the infield better than Johnson. I'm just saying.
I think Hall is a better 3B than Young..? Young hasn't really been great as a defender. Just adequate. And I think he's closer to adequate as a 2B than the left side of the infield
This Young for Lee talk is gaining some interesting momentum. I know Tags wrote it wouldn't happen however it sounded more like an opinion piece than fact. Still not sure where I stand on it but it does make for some interesting talk. @JimBowdenXMFOXCarlos Lee full no-trade clause has been a thorn for Astros last few yrs...Lee's cattle business in Houston too important to him...but TX? @JimBowdenXMFOXMYoung for Carlos Lee makes too much sense for both. Lee DH's (where he belongs); Young plays 2B and Hall moves to LF (where they belong)
The more I think about this, the more I really like the idea. I'd just love to move Carlos out of here...in a perfect world, that would be for prospects...but that's not gonna happen.
2011 Houston Astros Season Predictions WIN LOSS Philly (A) L Philly (A) W Philly (A) L Cin (A) W Cin (A) L Cin (A) W FLO (H) W FLO (H) W FLO (H) L Cubs (H) W Cubs (H) W Cubs (H) L SD (H) W SD (H) L SD (H) L SD (H) W NYM (A) L NYM (A) L NYM (A) W MIL (A) W MIL (A) W MIL (A) L STL (H) W STL (H) L STL (H) L MIL (H) W MIL (H) L MIL (H) W Cin (A) W Cin (A) W Cin (A) L PIT (A) W PIT (A) W PIT (A) W CIN (H) W CIN (H) L CIN (H) L NYM (H) L NYM (H) L NYM (H) W ATL (A) W ATL (A) L STL (A) W STL (A) W TOR (A) W TOR (A) L TOR (A) W LAD (H) L LAD (H) L LAD (H) W ARZ (H) W ARZ (H) W ARZ (H) W Cubs (A) W Cubs (A) W Cubs (A) L SD (A) W SD (A) L SD (A) L SD (A) W STL (H) W STL (H) L STL (H) L ATL (H) W ATL (H) L ATL (H) L ATL (H) L PIT (H) W PIT (H) W PIT (H) W LAD (A) W LAD (A) L LAD (A) L TEX (A) L TEX (A) L TEX (A) W TB (H) L TB (H) L TB (H) L TEX (H) W TEX (H) W TEX (H) L BOS (H) L BOS (H) W BOS (H) L PIT (A) W PIT (A) W PIT (A) W FLO (A) W FLO (A) W FLO (A) W FLO (A) L PIT (H) W PIT (H) W PIT (H) L WAS (H) L WAS (H) L WAS (H) W Cubs (A) W Cubs (A) L Cubs (A) W STL (A) W STL (A) L STL (A) L STL (A) W MIL (A) W MIL (A) L MIL (A) L CIN (H) W CIN (H) W CIN (H) L MIL (H) W MIL (H) L MIL (H) W ARZ (A) W ARZ (A) W ARZ (A) W ARZ (A) W LAD (A) W LAD (A) W LAD (A) L Cubs (H) W Cubs (H) L Cubs (H) L SF (H) L SF (H) L SF (H) W COL (A) W COL (A) L COL (A) W SF (A) L SF (A) L SF (A) L SF (A) W PIT (H) W PIT (H) W PIT (H) W MIL (H) W MIL (H) W MIL (H) W PIT (A) W PIT (A) W PIT (A) W WAS (A) L WAS (A) W WAS (A) L Philly (H) L Philly (H) L Philly (H) L Cubs (A) L Cubs (A) W Cubs (A) W CIN (A) L CIN (A) L CIN (A) W COL (H) W COL (H) L COL (H) L COL (H) L STL (H) W STL (H) L STL (H) W WINS LOSSES Total 90 72 Lol, super bored before class. :grin: I will stand by this prediction!!!
90 wins, someones optimistic. I think our starting rotation is legitimate and we should have an improved defense in the infield with the addition of Barmes/Hall. Our weakness is going to be OBP and scoring runs. I'd say we have the potential to win 80-85 games, but more likley 75-80.
Lol im a little optimistic, but i say if we acquire Young, we have a good enough offense and our pitching is legit. C - Castro .262/18hrs/64rbi 1B - Wallace .278/23hrs/95rbi 2B - Young .312/18hrs/78rbi 3B - Johnson .281/27hrs/92rbi SS - Barmes .262/12hrs/63rbi LF - Hall .254/23hrs/79rbi CF - Bourn .288/3hrs/34rbi/69 SB RF - Pence .310/34hrs/112rbi If Lee is still here... LF - Lee .302/35hrs/133rbi #1 - Myers 15W/9L 3.34 ERA 1.34 WHIP #2 - Wandy 16W/11L 3.21 ERA 1.22 WHIP #3 - Happ 12W/8L 4.03 ERA 1.78 WHIP #4 - Norris 10W/10L 4.44 ERA 1.83 WHIP #5 - Lyles 9W/4L 3.99 ERA 1.54 WHIP
