The Dodgers lost a potential 2014 bench option on Thursday with news that infielder Michael Young has decided to retire to spend more time with his family, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and confirmed by several others.
Young said on Sunday at a charity bowling tournament he co-hosted that he was essentially deciding between the Dodgers and retirement, a sentiment echoed by general manager Ned Colletti on Wednesday night on Dodger Talk on 570 KLAC.
Colletti said the Dodgers were still looking to add another infielder to the bench, preferably one who could play both third base and first base, and that it could be someone either to compete for a job as a non-roster invitee or on a major league deal.
The Dodgers acquired Young from the Phillies on Aug. 31 for minor league pitcher Rob Rasmussen.
Young, 37, hit .314/.321/.392 (16-for-51) in his month with the Dodgers, appearing in 21 games. He started five games at third base, three more at first base, and one game each at second base and shortstop.
In the postseason, Young appeared in nine of the Dodgers' 10 games, all in reserve. He was 1-for-10 in October, most notably subbing in for Adrian Gonzalez at first base in Game 1 of the NLCS and hitting into a pair of double plays, including a fly out to Carlos Beltran in right field.
On the season Young hit .279/.335/.395 with eight home runs and 26 doubles in 147 games between Philadelphia and Los Angeles, the first of his 14 major league seasons not with the Texas Rangers. He is now the second Dodgers free agent to retire this offseason, joining Jerry Hairston Jr., now a member of the Dodgers broadcast team on SportsNet LA.