DA MEAT HOOK close to a 2-year extension...

[browntown653]

...which means he will be playing left field next year. *cringes*

PHILADELPHIA -- First baseman Dmitri Young is close to signing a two-year extension with the Nationals, according to multiple sources. The move would come a few days after the team signed infielder Ronnie Belliard to an extension. Young and general manager Jim Bowden were not available for comment. Young is the most important player on the Nationals this season. He was pacing the Nationals in hitting (.331), RBIs (52) and on-base percentage (.386) entering Thursday's action. Young also is the No 1 reason the Nationals' clubhouse went from being one of the worst in team history to one of the best in the game today. He is the leader and is always trying to give a young player a helping hand. In fact, Young was seen trying to help rookie left-hander John Lannan before the latter made his Major League debut. Young has come a long way. Young thought his career was over after the 2006 season. He was released by the Tigers and was put on probation for domestic violence. His plan was to drive his camper across the country and watch his siblings, including Devil Rays outfielder Delmon Young, play sports. But Delmon and his father, Larry, told Dmitri he had too much left in the tank to quit. The Nationals were the only team interested in Young. He had a history with Bowden, as the two worked together when both were with the Reds from 1998-2001. Bowden wasn't convinced that Larry Broadway and Travis Lee would provide the consistency with the bat, so he invited Young to Spring Training. The Nationals told him there was a no-tolerance policy if Young had problems off the field again. They would release him the moment he got himself in trouble. Now, Young is part of the Nationals' future. With Young set to sign the extension, it means a couple of things: He will play left field starting next year. Most of Young's experience with the glove has come in the outfield. He has played 403 games in left and 103 in right field. "[Young] has to lose 20 pounds to play left field," said one source with knowledge of the situation. That shouldn't be hard for Young. Early this year, he entered Spring Training out of shape and lost at least 20 pounds and became the regular first baseman because Nick Johnson broke his right leg and has yet to play a game this season. With Young's future secure, what happens to left fielder Ryan Church? It's no secret that members of the "think tank" are disappointed in his offensive production and would like to trade him. The Cubs are interested in Church, but Bowden is asking too much for him. It is believed that the Cubs view Church as an extra outfielder. The Cubs were looking to acquire Church's services during the Winter Meetings, but nothing ever came of it.

There goes one of the top players off the trade market if this is true...and is anyone else here not surprised that Jim Bowden is asking too much for a player? Gee, there's a shock, and it's RYAN FREAKING CHURCH too.