PHILADELPHIA — Michael Young chose a full-time role over staying home.
A person familiar with the trade said the Philadelphia Phillies have acquired the seven-time All-Star infielder from the Texas Rangers for two relief pitchers.
Young agreed to waive his no-trade clause on Saturday, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been announced. The Rangers also will pay a significant portion of Young’s salary for 2013. Young is due to earn $16 million, and reports stated the Phillies will pay him only about $6 million of it.
Young, who has spent all 12 of his seasons in the majors with the Rangers, leaves as the club’s career leader in hits (2,230) and other categories, including runs, doubles and triples. He has a .301 career average with 177 homers, 984 RBIs and a .347 on-base percentage.
The Phillies sent right-hander Josh Lindblom and minor league righty Lisalverto Bonilla to the Rangers to get Young, who fills a void at third base. Lindblom was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31 for two-time All-Star center fielder Shane Victorino.
Young batted .277 with eight homers and 67 RBIs in 2012, a down year for him. In the nine previous seasons, Young hit at least .300 seven times and averaged 17 homers and 90 RBIs.
A former AL Gold Glove winner at shortstop, Young hasn’t play third base regularly since 2010. Seven Phillies started at third base last year, including often-injured former All-Star Placido Polanco.
Young was a leader on a Rangers team that reached the World Series in 2010 and 2011. He agreed to the trade rather than accept a utility role in Texas.
Young began his career playing second base before moving to shortstop where he won his Gold Glove in 2008. But he switched to third base the next year to make room for Elvis Andrus. After two seasons at third, Young lost that position to Adrian Beltre. He started at least one game at each spot in the infield and served as a designated hitter much of the time over the past two years.
In Philadelphia, Young’s versatility will allow manager Charlie Manuel to rest first baseman Ryan Howard and second baseman Chase Utley occasionally. Kevin Frandsen, who batted .338 in 195 at-bats for the Phillies last year, would start at third base when Young moves around. Freddy Galvis also could be used as a late-inning defensive replacement for Young at third.
“Lets be real Philly nation this is one hell of a pickup!” Frandsen wrote on Twitter.
The Phillies hope Young is a one-year stopgap until prospect Cody Asche is ready. Asche batted .324 with 12 homers and 72 RBIs last year for Single-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading.
The Phillies, coming off an 81-81 season after five straight NL East titles, got a regular center fielder on Thursday when they acquired Ben Revere from Minnesota for pitchers Vance Worley and Trevor May.
Now they have crossed third base off their to-do list. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. still hopes to find a right-handed hitting outfielder with power, a No. 4 or No. 5 starter, and a setup reliever.
Lindblom was 3-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 74 games for the Dodgers and Phillies. He allowed 13 homers in 71 innings. Bonilla was 3-2 with a 1.55 ERA and four saves in 31 relief appearances for Clearwater and Reading.
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