LOS ANGELES — Despite the thick clouds smothering the corners of the Yankees' infield, Michael Young isn't likely to move them out.
With Young, who has a complete no-trade clause, prioritizing returning to Texas before agreeing to a deal that would deliver him to the Yankees or Red Sox, the free-falling Phillies have turned their attention to making a deal with the Rangers, whom Young played for from 2002 to 2012.
The Rangers, who are paying $10 million of Young's $16 million salary this year, need a right-handed bat.
The Phillies would like to get back Lisalverto Bonilla or Josh Lindblom, the right-handed pitchers they dealt for Young last Dec. 12. Tuesday night, Young belted his eighth homer of the season, drove in two runs to give him 34 RBIs and upped his average to .279.
It isn't known whether the Yankees received word from Young's camp he didn't want to be a Yankee and then moved quickly to acquire Alfonso Soriano from the Cubs last week. Or it's possible the Yankees have room for Soriano, a DH/left fielder, and Young, who can play first and third.
Third base has been a revolving door for the Yankees ever since it was revealed in December that Alex Rodriguez required hip surgery that was done in January.
Initially, the Yankees plugged Kevin Youkilis into the spot, giving him a one-year deal worth $12 million. They believed the veteran right-handed hitter was healthy enough to at least hold the position until Rodriguez's return following the All-Star break.
Instead, Youkilis lasted 28 games and underwent season-ending back surgery.
Including Youkilis, the Yankees have used seven players at third, where they thought Rodriguez would be standing by now.
Jayson Nix came off the disabled list Tuesday night and made his 25th start at third. Manager Joe Girardi said he will watch Eduardo Nunez work out at third before deciding if he will be the eighth Yankees' third baseman of the season.
Nothing has gone as planned regarding Rodriguez's re-entry into the Yankees' universe. On the verge of being activated from the DL, a left quadriceps injury extended his stay on the shelf indefinitely.
He is scheduled for a simulated game or a minor league rehab game tomorrow and after that it will be determined when — or if — he rejoins the club. A good guess is he could be back Monday in Chicago, where the Yankees open a three-game series against the awful White Sox.
Yet, nothing is simple with Rodriguez. He is awaiting word from MLB regarding what his sentence will be for involvement with Biogenesis, the defunct anti-aging clinic in Miami.
It's a foregone conclusion Rodriguez will be handed some type of suspension. He will appeal a suspension tied to the drug policy and could play while the appeals process takes place.
Nevertheless, if MLB suspends Rodriguez under the collective bargaining agreement language and he appeals, he can't participate while the appeal plays out.
Rodriguez's lawyer, David Cornwell, said Monday Rodriguez will appeal any penalty.
If the Yankees beat the odds and land Young — and that remains a possibility if the Rangers and Phillies can't get a deal done before today's 4 p.m. trading deadline — he could provide a right-handed hitting option at first, where the left-handed hitting Lyle Overbay is batting .196 (18-for-92) against lefties.
Sunday, Girardi used the right-handed hitting David Adams, a second baseman/third baseman against Tampa Bay lefty Matt Moore. Adams was sent to Triple-A following the 6-5 win.
As for third base, Brett Lillibridge, whose best position is second base, had started six straight games before Nix started against the Dodgers last night.
In those half-dozen games, he batted .190 (4-for-21) with three RBIs and one (a double) extra-base hit. In eight games as a Yankee, he was batting .185 (5-for-27).
"I would like to be hitting better, but I feel like I've been doing my job defensively. I know the hits will come if they keep putting me out there. I really want to prove myself,'' Lillibridge said.
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