The Michael Young era in Texas has come to an end after a source confirmed that the Rangers' all-time hits leader agreed to a trade Saturday to become Philadelphia's starting third baseman.
The Rangers will receive right-hander Josh Lindblom and Lisalverto Bonilla, a minor-league pitcher, while eating more than 50 percent of the $16 million owed to Young in the final year of his five-year, $80 million contract. He also receives $1.2 million in compensation.
Young leaves the Rangers with his playing time uncertain in 2013. The Rangers have seemed poised to make Jurickson Profar and everyday player, with the most likely scenario placing him at second base and moving Ian Kinsler to first. In that scenario, Young would have come off the bench and shared DH time with Mitch Moreland.
Young spent the first 13 years of his career with the Rangers, who acquired him in a trade for Esteban Loaiza in 2000. He broke Ivan Rodriguez's all-time hits record in June 2010 at Florida, and eclipsed 2,000 hits during the 2011 campaign in which he was voted at the Rangers' Player of the Year.
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But he dipped dramatically in 2012, producing a slash line of only .277/.312/.370. He hit only eight homers with 67 RBIs from a key spot in the lineup, and his range defensive has been on the decline for the past several seasons.
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