Kuzul

There is a unique feeling for Philadelphia fans entering the 2013 season.  Much of the talent that helped the team win 102 games in 2011 remains, but the bitter taste of the 2012 season remains strong.  Ruben Amaro has quietly filled the team's needs, avoiding the flashy free-agent signing or blockbuster trade that has marked seasons past.  The team appears poised to compete, but there is more uncertainty surrounding this team than there has been in many years. With the competition growing increasingly fierce, the Phillies will need to perform up to potential all season long to have a chance to compete in the NL East.  A lot can happen over the course of 162 games and this slideshow will outline some of the key events that I believe will mark the upcoming season. So without further ado, here are my 7 bold predictions for the Phillies' 2013 season.Begin Slideshow

The Texas Rangers have reportedly traded infielder/DH Michael Young to the Philadelphia Phillies for reliever Josh Lindblom and minor league pitcher Lisalverto Bonilla, according to a tweet by MLB.com’s TR Sullivan.  Lindblom, Bonilla for Young as trade is done wp.me/p1rXwL-8WpT— TR Sullivan (@Sullivan_Ranger) December 8, 2012  The trade was confirmed a few minutes later in a separate tweet by MLB.com.  Source tells @sullivan_ranger that @phillies will send RHPs Lindblom, Bonilla to @rangers for Michael Young: atmlb.com/SVv8g2— MLB (@MLB) December 8, 2012  The Phillies will install Young as their starting third baseman, while the Rangers add depth to their pitching at the minor and major league levels. It was a great move by one team and a bit of a head-scratcher for the other.Click through to see who are the immediate winners and losers of the Michael Young tradeBegin Slideshow

The Texas Rangers have been known for quite some time as a team that usually wins with their bats. They are third in Major League Baseball since 2000 in runs scored and this is a team that has only been to the postseason twice since the turn of the millennium.This offense has featured many prolific names but there are five that stand out from all the rest. We will be ranking these players by their WAR (wins above replacement) which is a stat that represents the number of wins that a player's presence translates to compared to a replacement player.Since runs are dependent on other batters, it is not appropriate to gauge worth using that stat which is why WAR is being used. Read on for more.Begin Slideshow

As Spring Training nears its end, Michael Young is still a Texas Ranger. However, it’s not guaranteed he’ll finish with the Rangers even if he lines up on the first base line on April 1 at Texas Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The main reason Young has yet to change uniforms, is the Rangers are reluctant to pay too much of his salary to play elsewhere.  The asking price for Young has been too rich for opposing team’s liking. There have been recent reports that the Rangers would be willing to eat up to about $24 million remaining of Michael Young’s contract. If the Rangers go forward with this, a Young trade goes from remote to possible. Jon Daniels and Young have spoke of the trade request to each other recently behind closed doors, and the entire issue looks to be behind the Rangers and Young as well.  Daniels stated, “Could ...

The Diamondbacks have recently been in contact with the Texas Rangers about acquiring third baseman Michael Young, however it appears as though no serious talks have since proceeded. It was recently reported that the Rangers would be willing to pay half of his remaining $48 million contract, or $16 million per season through 2013. If the Diamondbacks are serious about competing now, like they say they are, they should be making a legitimate play to get Michael Young, assuming that the price the Rangers are asking for will not deplete the farm system.  More than likely the inquiry was nothing more than Kevin Towers doing his due diligence and the next trade the Diamondbacks will make will be around the trade deadline. While I don’t expect anything to happen, adding Michael Young to play 3B may just be the piece needed that would allow the Diamondbacks to compete in the NL West. Looking at ...

Back in early February, Texas Rangers third baseman Michael Young officially asked to be traded. However, the Rangers have yet to be involved with any serious offers. Part of the reason is that Young is set to make $48 million over the next three seasons. Also, Texas is asking for grade-A talent, which could only make matters more difficult. On March 19th, Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports tweeted that the Rangers are willing to roughly split the $48 million in order to get a deal done. With that said, should the Cleveland Indians attempt to make an offer? Well, after trading away fan favorites in Victor Martinez, Casey Blake and Ben Francisco, the Tribe could use someone like Michael Young. They also traded away CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee (consecutive Cy Young award winners in 2007 and 2008). As for Young, he is a seasoned vet with a legitimate amount of postseason experience who can be a leader ...

News of Chase Utley's tendinitis in his right knee has spread around the baseball world over the past week. While Utley doesn't look like he'll need any serious treatment, he's already received a cortisone shot in the knee, but it didn't have any effect. He's rested and stayed off the knee as much as possible, but that was to no avail. He's even suggested that he could receive either a steroid injection or lubricant injection to speed up the process, but neither are certain as of yet.Regardless of whether it's been because of being hit by a pitch or simply overworking himself, Chase Utley has definitely felt the impact of an injury on playing time. Over the last few seasons, Utley has been riddled with injuries, from the broken hand to the torn thumb ligament last season, and now the tendinitis.ESPN's SportsCenter recently showed a statistic about second basemen that ...

In a strange twist of fate in Texas Rangerville, outspoken franchise CEO Chuck Greenberg is on his way out of town, and disgruntled star Michael Young—he of the trade demands and vitriolic accusations aimed at team management—is apparently staying in Arlington.Young, angered after the team had ousted him yet again from his position with the team, sounded off on Rangers' management, especially GM Jon Daniels, accusing Texas brass of misleading him and treating him unfairly.Of course, the Ranger infielder never fully elaborated on his accusations, but his comments aroused healthy doses of speculation as the team entered camp following its most successful season in franchise history.Young cooled on his initial trade demands after it became apparent that the team wouldn't be able to accommodate him immediately, nor were they willing to simply for the sake of appeasing him.As spring training has progressed, the Texas star and management have done their ...

When the Texas Rangers ponied up and offered free agent Adrian Beltre a six-year, $96 million contract, incumbent third baseman Michael Young, the Rangers all-time leader in hits and several other offensive categories, indicated that he was okay with moving to the role of full-time designated hitter. Then, the Rangers acquired Mike Napoli from the Toronto Blue Jays, and shortly thereafter, all hell broke loose. Two weeks prior to the start of spring training, the Texas Rangers went public in saying that Michael Young had demanded to be traded, with general manager Jon Daniels saying that Young had a “change of heart” regarding his role as designated hitter and utility infielder. One day later, Young ripped the Rangers, telling Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports: “The suggestion that I had a change of heart and asked for a trade is a manipulation of the truth. I asked for a trade because ...

Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington has been quoted as telling to Adrian Beltre not to try to rush back or play with his injury. Heck, why should he rush? The Rangers only have a $16 million utility guy. I’ll repeat that: $16 million reasons for the Texas Rangers not to worry. However, Michael Young still wants to be traded. Michael Young is a good talent, but what team is going to take on the mammoth salary he has? A $48 million price tag for the next three seasons is hard to swallow for any team to pay for a 34-year-old player. Let’s face it, Young isn’t Albert Pujols. Also, looking at potential teams that would trade for Young, they would want the Rangers to eat most of his contract. So why let him go? We all know what goals the Rangers have this season. Why waste the money and the ...