Michael Young said he will move from shortstop to third base and back off his demand for a trade after it became apparent that Rangers GM Jon Daniels couldn’t trade him for two bad minor league pitchers and a year’s supply of taffy.
Instead, Daniels was working hard to sign the ageless one, Omar Vizquel to tutor 20-year-old rookie Elvis Andrus.
“I’ve only been an all-star five times, so what do I know?” Young, last season’s American League Gold Glove winner said.
Apparently it took club president Nolan Ryan to smooth the way for Young’s transition to third base. The pair talked several times, and Young called Ryan, not Daniels, to tell him he’d make the switch to third base.
Ryan said it was a smart move for Young to not let the situation linger into spring training.
“He should be commended for that,” Ryan said. “That’s why he’s a leader on this team.”
When reached for comment, Daniels said he was glad the situation was resolved, “so I can get back to the business of signing injury prone free-agent pitchers.”
“It looks real good that we can sign Ben Sheets,” Daniels said, talking about the oft-injured former Brewers pitcher. “If we sign Sheets, it means that none of our players will have to be on the disabled list alone.”
