According to multiple ESPN baseball sources, the Rangers are apparently in the hunt for the services of designated hitter and future Cooperstown resident Jim Thome.
I first heard this last night, and the first thing I said was "Huh?"
I mean, the club just signed Adrian Beltre to an almost $100 million dollar contract, and in the process said that Michael Young was going to be a "super-utility" player for the team, with most of his at-bats coming at DH, but also spelling others in the infield when they needed the rest.
So, if you've got the answer at DH (Young), why are you persuing a DH? Thome is going to command more money than the $1.5 million he earned in Minnesota this past year thanks to his 2010 production (.283 average, 25 HRs, 59 RBI). The move doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
Also, how is all this hot stove talk affecting Young? I would think that it's got to be hard for the guy to 1) Move postions for the third time in the last six years 2) be the subject of trade talks at the Winter Meetings and 3) now worry about his at-bats. Young has been very understanding through all of these moves the club has made recently, even seeming to embrace his role as "super-utility man." With this new hunt on for Thome, I really hope that Young is pushed to the brink of being tired of the antics and wanting out of town.
UPDATE: ESPNDallas' Richard Durrett weighs in on the ramifications
What do you think? Should Texas be pursuing Thome, or stand pat with Young and Co.?
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