This news came right out of left field. Via Ken Rosenthal on twitter:
BREAKING: #Dodgers get Michael Young from #Phillies
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) September 1, 2013
So, the Dodgers pick up an infielder (2nd, SS & 3rd) from the Philadelphia Phillies. Details about who we gave up has yet to leak, but it isn't much. Via Bill Shaikin on twitter:
Return for Michael Young described as a non-prospect minor leaguer. #Dodgers
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) September 1, 2013
UPDATE: We now know that the Dodgers traded AA lefty pitching prospect Rob Rasmussen, via Bill Shaikin on twitter.
#Dodgers confirm trade: Michael Young and cash for Rob Rasmussen.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) September 1, 2013
As you'll remember, Rasmussen originally came to the Dodgers late last year in a trade with Houston for John Ely.
Young has had a decent season (and an even better career), but I just don't think he comes in to supplant any of our current starters. He's basically on par with Juan Uribe and Mark Ellis with the bat, but is much poorer with the glove. Maybe he comes in to be a bat off the bench with an occasional start to rest our regulars.
What this also does is give us another in-house option for a third baseman next season. Since Uribe is a free agent in 2014, Young provides another option since he is also a free agent. Maybe, he gets a month to wow us and the Dodgers staff.
Below are Michael Young's career stats, via Baseball Reference.
From the Dodgers press release:
The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired third baseman Michael Young and cash considerations from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for minor league left-handed pitcher Rob Rasmussen. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred Josh Beckett to the 60-day disabled list.
Young, 36, is a seven-time All-Star and won the 2005 American League batting title with the Texas Rangers, who he played for from 2000-2012. Young twice led the American League in hits (2005 & 2011) and his 2,359 career hits rank seventh among active players. Young owns a .300 career average in 1,949 games, while posting six 200-hit seasons in his career. The Covina native is a career .321 hitter with runners in scoring position.
Defensively, the 2008 AL Gold Glove winner at shortstop has appeared in 155 or more games in 10 of his 14 seasons and has posted a career .959 fielding percentage at third base.
In 126 games this season, his first with Philadelphia, the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder led the Phillies in hits and batted .276 (129-for-468) with eight home runs, 24 doubles and 41 RBI. On June 19 vs. Washington, Young eclipsed the 1,000-career RBI mark with a two-run home run.
Young has appeared in the postseason three times, including reaching the World Series in 2010 and 2011 as a member of the Rangers. In 34 career postseason games, he is batting .248 with three home runs and 19 RBI, including a five-RBI performance in Game 6 of the 2011 ALCS-clinching victory at Detroit. Young was also the 2006 All-Star Game MVP in Pittsburgh.
A graduate of both Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente and UC Santa Barbara, Young was originally selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round of the 1997 First-Year Player Draft.
Since 2006, the Dodgers have made a number of key late August deals, acquiring such players as Marlon Anderson (2006 -.375 in 25 games), Ronnie Belliard (2009 - .351 in 24 games), Jon Garland (2009 -2.72 ERA in 6 starts) and Hall of Famers Greg Maddux (2009) and Jim Thome (2009).
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