Michael Young at second base for Yanks? That's Al Leiter's recommendation?

Say what?  Michael Young?  I guess Al Leiter had not had time yesterday to read my post:

Monday, December 16, 2013  Yanks already have a power hitting second baseman: Alfonso Soriano. Why are teams so chicken about moving fielders?

After rejoining the Yankees in 2013 Soriano hit 17 home runs in 219 at bats, one every 12.9 at bats.  That rate for 550 at bats would produce 43 homers.  If Soriano got anywhere close to that, how bad would his fielding seem?

Who would Yankee fans rather have at second base in 2014: Omar Infante or Alfonso Soriano?  This Yankee fan prefers Alfonso Soriano.
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Too bad.  It would have saved Leiter, commenting last night on MLB Network TV, the embarrassment of missing a really interesting suggestion and avoiding an all too typically unimaginative recommendation.

The issue in the previous post and in this one is thinking differently.  Now to the specifics of Micheal Young.

Soriano born January 7, 1976
Young: born October 19, 1976

Young is eight months younger.

OPS+:
Soriano: career 113, 2013 112 (with Yanks 129); max 135

Young: career 104, 2013 102; max 131; not exceeded 102 since 2011 (125)

Yes, Micheal Young is only 4% better than average.  His reputation is better than his performance.  Maximum home runs (HR): 24 ... in 668 at bats.  Best RBI: 106, 103.  Led in hits twice.  Young's rep is probably because Young led in batting average (BA) in 2005: .331.  BA still elicits undue attention.

Soriano holds the Washington (Montreal) Nationals season home run record: 46.  He's exceeded Young's HR max ten times: 46, 39, 38, 36, 34 (2013), 33, 32, 29, 28, 26.  Career: 406 to 185.

Stolen bases: Soriano: 43, 41 (led), 41, 35, 30 ... 288 career.  Young: 90.

OK, what about playing second base?

Soriano was a regular at second 2002 through 2005.  Since then, left field almost exclusively.

Young has never played the outfield.  Starts:
SS 711
3B 421
2B 406
1B 78.

Young's primary position was second base 2001 through 2003.

Soriano's experience at second is actually more recent but Young has been an infielder all along.  Young would probably be a better fielder.

Soriano would be more of a threat at bat despite his huge strike out (SO) numbers: high 166 when he hit 46 HR; 13 times over 100, 4 times over 150.  Wow!  However, Young has over 100 SO five times, high 115.

But the biggest difference is that the Yankees already have Soriano and they foolishly just paid big bucks to two free agent outfielders, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran, depriving Soriano of a fielding position despite the fact that Soriano can still play the field.  In 2013 the Yankees foolishly acquired Travis Hafner who supposedly is such a bad first baseman that he was not considered a fielder, forcing the Yankees to devote another roster spot to accommodate this ineffective designated hitter (DH).

The Yankees have a hole at second base and big questions at third and shortstop: Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.  Of the 8 non-pitcher Yankee regulars, none are under 30.  Ellsbury, new catcher Brian McCann  and incumbent center fielder Brett Gardner are 30.  The four of the other five are in their late 30s:

Jeter: born June 26, 1974
Rodriguez: born July 27, 1975
Soriano: born January 7, 1976
Young: born October 19, 1976  (recommended by Leiter but not yet a Yankee)
Beltran: born April 24, 1977
Teixeira: born: April 11, 1980

One thing the Yankees do not need is another player in his late 30s, including Brian Roberts whom I just learned might have signed with the Yanks: born October 9, 1977.  Oh yeah, he'll fit right in with the old timers theme.

And they still need starting pitchers.