Potential Trade: Young for Joba

July 10 marks when NBA teams can officially announce trades and free agent signings; however it is a potential baseball transaction that has caught my attention the most. There have been recent trade rumors circulating that the Philadelphia Phillies are exploring the option of trading versatile veteran infielder Michael Young to the Yankees in return for the erratic Joba Chamberlain.

If this deal can be pulled off before the July 31 deadline, it will only add to various other trading “phlops” in Philadelphia sports history while Brian Cashman would have succeeded yet again in finding production in a thought to be washed up player.

Joba Chamberlain has become one of the generation’s most inconsistent and unreliable pitchers. Chamberlain has struggled staying on the field and at the major league level while battling numerous injuries and mechanics issues.

As a rookie, Joba looked like a potentially great major league pitcher when he went 2-0 with a sub one ERA out of the bullpen. In his 2008 sophomore and first full season, Chamberlain continued his early success by posting a 4-3 record with a 2.60 ERA while averaging more than one strikeout per inning.

Since his first two seasons, Chamberlain has moved between the bullpen, starting rotation, and operating room. Joba has yet to perform for a full season as he has made over 45 appearances out of the bullpen only once, in 2010 where had a 4.40 ERA and allowed almost one hit every inning. Currently, Chamberlain is having his worst season yet, with an ERA over five through 22 appearances.

Michael Young is one of baseball’s most underrated players. Young is a career .301 hitter while being extremely versatile. The seven time All-Star has experience at all four infield positions and has a fielding percentage over .955 at all four spots.

Through the 2013 campaign, Young has played mostly third base, while batting .289 and committing only six errors.

If this trade goes through, the Yankees may pull off one of the biggest steals in baseball history. Young is almost a perfect fit for the Bombers while the Phils could acquire a couple boxes of baseballs for the same value of Joba Chamberlain.

As a veteran with playoff experience, Young also provides great character. As a Ranger, it seemed like every year Young was forced to change positions because of a new addition to the team. The Yankees could use a player like Young who provides a team first attitude to the clubhouse.

Young could also jumpstart a sluggish Yankee lineup with his energizing, reliable, and consistent production, as he not batted under .250 in over ten years. With the future of Alex Rodriguez in the Bronx questionable and a lack of production from the hot corner this season, Young could fill a big vacancy in Joe Girardi’s lineup.

Joba does not however blend with a Phillies organization looking to make one final push for the playoffs before the majority of their roster begins retiring. If the Phillies are looking for one more October, they do not need another lackluster arm in a bullpen with an ERA of 4.61, nor can they afford to lose their second leading and best all around hitter.

The Pinstripes revitalize careers, and despite the almost natural fit between Young and the Yankees, I do not see this trade going through. The Phillies would be out of their mind to let a potential key to the playoffs go in return for a pitcher who may actually make the league’s second worst bullpen even worse.