For at least the next two years, the Rangers will have the services of Michael Young. They’ll pay him a bargain basement $4.5 million in 2007 and then $5 million in 2008 (which is an option year) but after that, Young will be able to test market. That is, unless owner Tom Hicks has something to say about it. Hicks has publicly said that he’d like to lock up the shortstop to a longer term deal to keep in a Rangers uniform.
I also think the Rangers should be looking to do something similar to Mark Teixara, who will be a free agent after this season. Regardless, it looks like Hicks is only leaving the window open for Young until the season starts and then it’ll probably be put off for another year.
PECOTA is projecting some pretty good things out of Young. They have him at .305/.358/.464, at least for his weighted mean average. I could live with that.