Is the Albert Pujols Sweepstakes going to affect Michael Young?

Upon formally hearing of Michael Young’s trade request today, I took a look at the FanGraphs WAR team leaderboard for second basemen in 2010. Unsurprisingly, I saw Young’s most frequently rumored suitor, the Colorado Rockies, ranked near the bottom, along with a slew of teams not expected to contend in 2011 (the Pirates, Mets, Indians, and Mariners, to name a few). However, I did notice a pair of interesting teams who are certainly looking to contend next season, and could clearly use a significant upgrade at second base: The Cardinals (-0.1 WAR) and the Cubs (1.2). Now neither of these teams has been linked to Young as far as the rumor mill goes, and there are a number of potential reasons for this. They could be on Young’s no-trade list (which covers 22 teams), the Rangers could be asking an exorbitant amount in return, or the teams could simply be tapped out financially for the season. I do wonder, though, if both the Cardinals and the Cubs are staying out of the chase for Young because neither team knows for certain how the Albert Pujols negotiations will go (although the Cardinals have a better idea, one would assume), and may need every extra dime to make a lucrative offer to him this winter. An offer that likely would not mesh particularly well with the $48 million Young is owed over the next three seasons.

Obviously, there is no guarantee that either would have pursued Young regardless of Pujols (or that they still won’t, for that matter), or that the Rangers aren’t willing to eat a significant amount of Young’s salary in order to move him, making the point moot. But it will be interesting to see if the Cubs and Cardinals do not make a move to upgrade the position, and are involved in a tight race for the playoffs late in September, probably with last season’s NL Central Champion Cincinnati Reds. It does seem odd to say, but trading for a slightly above average regular second baseman might be the biggest win-now move either team could make, albeit with potentially extreme consequences beyond this season.