Sox Reportedly Interested in Michael Young

With things looking more iffy by the day at third base the Red Sox are reportedly showing some interest in the Phillies’ Michael Young.

Jul 6, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Michael Young (10) during game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. The Braves defeated the Phillies, 13-4. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

With three weeks remaining before the trade deadline, The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo reported the Sox have some interest in Young, but Boston and Philadelphia have not moved toward substantive talks.

With Will Middlebrooks apparently on the outs and both Brock Holt and Brandon Snyder proving every day that they’re not the answer, Boston is shopping Young. This still leaves a lot of balls up in the air on the left side of the infield. After a lackluster and inconsistent start with Boston, will Stephen Drew be a viable shortstop in the second half when he comes back? If so, what happens with Jose Iglesias who was playing a solid third base and has been playing well at shortstop but has started to cool off. Iggy is still batting .388 but is hitting .337 over the past 30 days and just .240 in the last week.

Young is a journeyman utility infielder (shortstop, second base and third base) with some pop. He is a career .299 hitter who has averaged 14 homers per year. His home runs totals of 22 and 21 in 2009 and 2010 have dropped in recent years but he’s still a solid right handed presence in the lineup. The question is, can he be Boston’s full-time third baseman.

Young, 36, spent his entire 12-year career in Texas with the Rangers until signing with the Phillies for the 2013 season.