Marlins Reportedly Express Interest in Michael Young Trade

February 15 2011 Last updated at 04:30 PM ET

Trade talks with the Rockies about Michael Young went nowhere, but the Rangers might have more success with their 1993 expansion brethren.

The Marlins are reportedly interested in trading for Young to be their third baseman this season. Right now their best option is Matt Dominguez, a well-regarded prospect who has never played above Double-A. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, however, there are several significant stumbling blocks that would have to be overcome to make such a deal come to fruition. He quotes a source that says it is a "real reach" to think a deal can get done.

The first is that Young did not include the Marlins on the list of eight teams that got automatic waivers of his no-trade rights. That doesn't mean something couldn't be worked out, especially with the relationship between Texas and Young getting worse and worse as more time passes by.

If that can be worked out, there would still be another major hurdle to clear to make a deal. Rosenthal reports that the Marlins would need the Rangers to assume most of the $48 million left on Young's contract. Buster Olney of ESPN concurs with that thought, positing that Florida sees him as being worth $6-7 million a season.

Young's contract is going to continue to be the fly in the ointment when it comes to making a trade. Because of Young's advancing age, mediocre defense and middling offensive production, it's simply too large for any team to swallow in full form. His value to the Rangers is a bit higher, because of his long tenure and spot as a veteran leader, but it still doesn't get you all the way to the $16 million he'll be making in each of the next three seasons.

Such is the problem with lavishing superstar contracts on players that are merely stars.

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