Young Wants to Know What Immediate Future Holds

Second baseman Eric Young and his agent plan to meet with Dodger officials this week to discuss Young’s role for the remainder of the season.

Young and Danny Horwits, who represents the veteran leadoff batter, will speak with General Manager Kevin Malone and Manager Davey Johnson about the unresolved situation. Specifically, Horwits said he and Young hope to gain an understanding about what is expected of Young, and what Young can expect of the Dodgers.

Young declined to comment on the upcoming meeting, instructing Horwits to speak on his behalf.

“We just want to find out where things stand with E.Y.,” Horwits said in a phone interview. “E.Y. loves L.A. and he wants to be a Dodger for the rest of his career, but we have some questions.”

The question has arisen in Young’s mind, Horwits said, because of what has occurred during the last two months. Johnson considered benching Young in late July because he was struggling at the plate and in the field while battling leg and ankle injuries.

Instead, the Dodgers put Young on the disabled list and he sat out 18 games while rehabilitating. Since he was activated Aug. 13, Young has batted .405 (15 for 37) to raise his average from .263 to .278. In 12 games since returning, Young has reached base in 22 of 43 plate appearances, has scored 10 runs and stolen six bases in seven attempts. Young leads the Dodgers with 40 stolen bases.

On Wednesday, Young went one for two with a walk, a run and a run batted in during a 9-7 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

“The Dodgers know what E.Y. can do when he’s healthy,” Horwits said. “He’s proving that all over again.”

Johnson has been impressed by how Young has conducted himself since rejoining the team.

“He’s been great, just great,” Johnson said. “He’s been moving a lot better around the bag, he’s been turning double plays, his footwork has really been good. He has that bounce back in his step, and that’s all because he’s got his legs back.”

Johnson said Young still is the everyday second baseman. However, Johnson plans to evaluate triple-A infield prospects Alex Cora and Adam Riggs when the rosters are expanded Sept. 1, and Craig Counsell remains in the mix at second base as well.

That means Young might not be in the lineup as much as he would prefer. Also, Young has been on the trading block and still could be traded during the off-season. He has two years and $9 million left on his contract.

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Dodger President Bob Graziano and Rick Welts, president of Fox Sports Enterprises, joined the team in Milwaukee on Tuesday and met with Commissioner Bud Selig at County Stadium on Wednesday.

The meeting provided an opportunity for Graziano to introduce Selig to Welts, who oversees Fox’s Southland sports interests. Graziano said many topics were discussed during the meeting, including the game’s growing financial problems.

In an unrelated topic, Graziano said the organization is considering its next move in developing a more financially beneficial spring-training situation. Graziano said the Dodgers have been contacted by several teams about a multi-team complex.