Michael Young Will Join The Dodgers And Your Soul In Colorado Series

Newest Dodger Michael Young will fly back to Philadelphia today, and then join the Dodgers in Colorado on Monday afternoon. Young was acquired in a trade with Philadelphia about an hour before roster expansion last night at the waiver trade deadline of August 31. The Dodgers  finalized the deal late last night, and sent minor leaguer Rob Rasmussen to the Philies in exchange for Young. The Dodgers transfered Josh Beckett from the 15 day DL to the 60 day DL in order to clear space.

The Dodgers are planning on using Young in a reserve bench role for the month of September. He’ll mostly pinch-hit, make an occasional start at third base, and that’s about it really. Young is 36 years old, bats right handed, and is actually a socal native. Young was born in Covina, and went to school in La Puente. The Dodgers will pay about 950,000 dollars of Young’s contract and the rest is either already paid, or being paid by the Phillies and Rangers.

You love Michael Young, just admit it-Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers had to rush to get the paperwork into the commissioner’s office in time so Young could be eligible for the playoff roster. This doesn’t necessarily mean the Dodgers will add him to the postseason roster, but they had to get the papers in fast so that they could have the option. Which they did successfully.

I like this move on a few fronts. First of all, the Dodgers didn’t give up anybody to get Young. Yes, they gave up minor league pitcher Rob Rasmussen. I don’t care. I stick to my original statement. If you are crying over losing Rob Rasmussen then I don’t know how you survived through any of the last three or four July trade deadlines.

They’re paying just 950,000 dollars of his salary (which is chump change), and with rosters expanding he doesn’t have to bump anyone from the club. he’s not going to displace Juan Uribe or anyone else. The Dodgers are not going to upset the winning clubhouse chemistry. He’s just going to be a bench guy. That’s all. He can be used as a pinch-hitter off the bench which could possibly lead to less double-switching from Mattingly once he has an extra pinch-hitter option, and it annoys Petriello, which is the best thing about the trade.

What nobody is mentioning is that Young has been red-hot of late in his closing days with the Phillies. Oh it’s true. Sure he’s hitting just .276 with 8 home runs and 42 RBI in 468 plate appearances. But Young has done well with runners on base this year, (.280 51 for 182), and with runners in scoring position, he’s batting .268 (26 for 97). And in his last five games, the veteran infielder has five multi-hit games, including a four hit performance in his final game with the Phillies. He’s 13 for his last 26 with three doubles, three runs driven in, and he’s whiffed only four times in his last 26 at-bats.