Eleventh-hour addition Michael Young of no benefit to Dodgers

Michael Young will join his hometown Dodgers, but it's unclear how he'll help. [Chris Williams/Icon SMI] Phillies Young, a seven-time All-Star who will turn 37

Michael Young will join his hometown Dodgers, but it's unclear how he'll help. [Chris Williams/Icon SMI]

Phillies

Young, a seven-time All-Star who will turn 37 in late October, saw his production at the plate vanish last year and has shown no signs of recovery. Young has hit .272/.333/.389 this season and just .231/.306/.323 in the second half. He has also been among the worst fielders in the major leagues over the last three seasons, costing his teams more than two full wins in the field in each of the last three seasons according to Baseball Info Solutions' defensive runs saved. Both Ultimate Zone Rating and Baseball Prospectus's Fielding Runs Against Average, which grade him more kindly,  say he has cost the Phillies more than a win in the field this season.

The Dodgers' incumbent third baseman, Juan Uribe, has posted a batting line very similar to Young's this season (.268/.326/.395, not counting his two hits Saturday night) while playing in a less-favorable home ballpark and is an above-average fielder. In other words, Uribe has been a bit better than Young at the plate and leaps and bounds better in the field. What's more, both players are right-handed hitters with reverse platoon splits this season, so Young is not only not an upgrade at third base, he is not a suitable platoon partner for Uribe, either.

Adrian Gonzalez