In one of the most unceremonious endings to a tenure by a legend in recent memory, Michael Young's time as a Texas Ranger came to an end as the Rangers were walking off the field at Rangers Ballpark in defeat after losing to Baltimore in the AL Wild Card Game, completing an epic collapse over the final month of the 2012 season.
Young hit just .277 in 2012, his worst offensive season since his second year in the bigs, and a year after he hit .338 while helping the Rangers to be so, so close to winning their first World Series.
Now, he's got a new beginning after some public displeasure with the Rangers' front office after being moved from second base to shortstop, from shortstop to third base, and finally from third base to super utility man/designated hitter. And he couldn't be happier.
"I was ready for a good change, a good challenge and this team is perfect for me," Young told the Associated Press. "They've done nothing but win over the last several years and they're a veteran group with some young guys growing up. I'm happy to be here."
The move is basically the perfect one for Young, who should always be a fan favorite here in Texas for all he did for the Rangers. He gets to play every day again in the field, as he'll be the team's starting third baseman. He gets to play for a perennial winner and he gets to perhaps take a back seat for once in the leadership department with guys like Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels in the clubhouse.
Young wlll always be Mr. Ranger, but it was time for both parties to go their separate ways, and it couldn't have worked out better for Young.
