...the Phillies started to get somewhere on a deal.
As the Winter Meetings wound down in Nashville, the Phillies and Rangers had reached common ground on a deal that would bring veteran infielder Michael Young and a lot of money to Philly for a modest rate in return. According to a source at Opryland, Young has been contacted to get his blessing to waive his no-trade clause in a deal to the Phils.
Young, 36, went from a huge 2011 season during which he led the AL in hits (213) and batted .338 with 106 RBIs, to batting .277 with 67 RBIs and a career-low 37 extra-base hits last season. His .682 OPS would've made him a nice complement to the rest of the train wrecks the Phillies had at third base last year.
Young has lousy range at third, but a sound glove and arm. He had been splitting time between the field and DH for the Rangers the last couple of years, so it's tough to tell how he would hold up as an everyday position player. That said, if last year's offensive crash was an anomaly and he is more like the guy he was in 2011 than 2012, the Phillies have a short-term solution at third and a professional right-handed hitter.
The Rangers would pay at least $10 million of the $16 million remaining on his contract, but that $5 million in savings for them would help them as they try to bolster their pitching.
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