What should the Rangers do about Michael Young

There are now only five days remaining until pitchers and catchers are due to report to Surprise, Ariz., for the Texas Rangers Spring Training.

Fans of the defending American League champions should be getting pumped up for another season of Rangers baseball, and players, coaches and management should be prepping for a repeat run toward a title.

Instead, what is everyone doing? Worrying about this troublesome Michael Young situation.

I wrote a column when the Rangers acquired Mike Napoli from Toronto saying that if/when Michael Young wanted out because his at-bats wouldn't be there, the Rangers owed it to him to trade him.

This past week, Michael Young did just that, demanding that Texas try and deal the six-time All Star.

A soccer-style 'what if?' for American sports

As I sat on my couch Sunday watching East Texan Clint Dempsey and Fulham roll past Tottenham in English soccer's FA Cup play, I got to thinking about the way soccer leagues in Europe do things.

For example, almost every European nation has multiple soccer leagues, which work on a tier system, a lot like baseball in America.

The difference is, every year those leagues change makeup, adding and losing teams to different leagues based on final season record.

Rangers send Francisco to Toronto for Napoli

According to multiple reports first started by FOXsport.com's Ken Rosenthal, the Rangers have traded long-time reliever Frank Francisco to Toronto for utility-man Mike Napoli, who was a Blue Jay for all of a week, acquired by the Canadian club in the Vernon Wells deal.

Rosenthal also tweeted that this deal probably shows that Vlad Guerrero won't be back in Texas either, as Napoli is expected to split time between C, 1B and DH.

Bourn, Barmes and Keppinger avoid arbitration with Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — Center fielder Michael Bourn has agreed to a $4.4 million, one-year contract with the Houston Astros, who also reached deals with infielders Clint Barmes at $3,925,000 and Jeff Keppinger at $2.3 million.

Tuesday's agreements avoided salary arbitration.

Bourn hit .265 with 25 doubles, a career-high 38 RBIs and a league-leading 52 steals last season for Houston. Bourn earned his second Gold Glove in 2010 and leads the majors with 154 stolen bases since 2008.

Barmes came to Houston in a November trade from Colorado and is expected to play shortstop for the Astros. He has hit .254 with 61 homers and 285 RBIs since 2003 with the Rockies.

Keppinger hit .288 with six home runs and 59 RBIs in 137 games for Houston last season.