Former Phillies INF Michael Young Drawing Managerial Interest

Former Phillies 1B/3B Michael Young could be among the list of Phillies managerial candidates.

While the Philadelphia Phillies gear up to interview Dusty Baker, as well as Joe Girardi and Buck Showalter in the coming days, one former player from the team’s 2013 roster could be under consideration as well.

Michael Young, a 14-year veteran, seven-time All-Star, and one-time Gold Glove Award winner, has reportedly received “multiple calls” for open managerial positions, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. It is not  known which teams, specifically, reached out to Young.

Young, 42, played 126 games with the Phillies in 2013, slashing .276/.336/.395 with 24 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, 42 RBI, 42 walks and 78 strikeouts spanning 512 plate appearances. Prior, from 2000-2012, Young played 1,823 games with the Texas Rangers, slashing .301/.347/.444 with 415 doubles, 177 home runs and 984 RBI.

The Covina, California, native finished his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013, as the Phillies dealt him out west on August 31 in exchange for minor-league RHP Rob Rasmussen.

The Rangers retired Young’s No. 10 exactly six years later, this past August 31. Young joined their front office following the 2014 season, and has worked there ever since.

Now, could he soon become a major-league manager?

Heyman added, “Friends say [Young] hasn’t decided he’s quite ready to dive into the managing pool yet. Would be very good.” In March 2017, Young expressed some interest in managing Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, however.

Young fell off the Hall of Fame ballot this past January, after receiving only 2.1 percent of the vote during his first year of eligibility. Despite not making it to Cooperstown, he is considered one of the more respectable representatives for the game.

If he wants it, a managerial position surely is in Young’s future.