Michael Young to Sox? Not seeing it
White Sox general manager Kenny Williams likes to think big, so anything is possible.
That includes acquiring Michael Young in a trade from the Texas Rangers. Over the weekend, the all-star shortstop asked to be moved because the Rangers want him to switch to third base this season.
Could the Sox use a player like Young? No question. Is Kenny going to try to get him? Very doubtful.
While Young has been one of baseball’s best all-around players for years _ and Ozzie is one of his biggest fans _ he has a big salary to match his skill level.
Kenny has been subtracting payroll since the White Sox fell to Tampa Bay in the first round of the playoffs, so it’s highly unlikely he’d be willing to take on the $60 million Young is owed through 2013. (By the way, Young will be 37 at the end of the contract).
Maybe Kenny tries sending Jermaine Dye to Texas for Young, but Rangers GM Jon Daniels would want a lot more than that. He’d probably want starting pitcher John Danks back, but that’s not going to happen.
Look for the hot stove to really start heating up this week, and look for the Young-to-the-White Sox rumors to be flying fairly high.
But when all is said and done, the Sox are going to be just fine with Alexei Ramirez at shortstop this season.
Please don't get greedy at this point we have good young pitching and young hopefully up and coming players leave it alone. Move Konerko so Fields and Vincendo can play, KEEP THE YOUTH MOVEMENT GOING!!!! and keep Dye as the DH
Scot, do you expect Kenny to make any moves before the Cubs Convention? And if the dollars don't make sense with the Young deal, then why do you think the rumors will still be flying high? Do the Sox just want to make it seem like they're trying?
Do I expect any moves before the Cubs Convention? I'd say it's less than 50-50. After Kenny traded Javy Vazquez to Atlanta and signed Dayan Viciedo in early December, he said the roster was pretty much set.
I still think the Sox have to add one more starting pitcher, and since economic times are so tight, it's not going to be a high-priced guy like Ben Sheets or Derek Lowe. But...Freddy Garcia is still out there.
As for being linked to Michael Young rumors, the White Sox have always raved about his talent (particularly Ozzie). And I think the Sox are always mentioned as trade partners just because Kenny is so aggressive and usually trying to add as much talent as possible.
But as White Sox fans have undoubtedly discovered this very quiet off-season, Kenny doesn't have the money to be a big player. Not many GMs do.