Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News broke the news December 5 that the Texas Rangers are in discussions to trade Michael Young to the Philadelphia Phillies.

In return, Texas would eat $10 million of the $16 million remaining on Young’s contract and receive a young major league reliever and a lower-level prospect. Now reports are coming out that the trade is in Young’s hands, as he has a full no-trade clause.

It’s painful to say this, but Young needs to approve this trade. To do otherwise would tarnish what has been one of the best careers in Ranger history.

From the beginning
I grew up with Young. He came on with the Rangers in 2001, when the Rangers were mired in the era of ’roided home run hitters and terrible pitching. As an 11-year-old, I remember watching Young at second base — one of the few bright spots not named Alex Rodriguez.

Though those mid-2000s Rangers were hardly better than average, Young managed to accumulate accolades. In 2005, he earned the American League batting title, and in 2006 Young was the All-Star MVP. Today, he is the Rangers’ all-time leader in games, hits, doubles, triples, runs and total bases.

He has proven himself to be in the upper echelon of Rangers players — at a time when, for the most part, the Rangers haven't been any good.

While others came and went, the one constant was Young. Fans appreciated his leadership and consistency, even as he was moved from second to shortstop, and then to third base when Elvis Andrus came on the scene.

When the Rangers reached the World Series in 2010, it seemed as much a reward for Young as it was for the organization. A Rangers lifer who had put up with nine years of ineptitude was finally on the brink of baseball mecca.

Consummate professionalism
Even when he asked for a trade in 2011 following the signing of third baseman Adrian Beltré and was subsequently denied, Young went out and earned his seventh All-Star trip. He shined as a utility infielder and designated hitter in a situation that has seen other players sulk or become clubhouse cancers.

My friends and I describe Young as the consummate professional. Our fantasy baseball league is named “The Consummate Professionalists,” and the winner of the league receives the Michael Young Trophy.

There is no better representative of selflessness than Michael Young, and no Ranger for whom I have greater respect.

That’s why he needs to accept this trade.

Ignore the fact that last year was his first year with a negative WAR or that he turned 36 in October — with infielders Jurickson Profar and Mike Olt on the rise, the opportunities for Young are diminishing.

There simply isn’t space for him on the Rangers anymore. As much as I wish he could remain a lifer, he deserves the opportunity to play every day in Philly.

Fond memories and a bittersweet farewell
His leadership in the clubhouse would be missed, but this Rangers team is no longer one full of young, inexperienced players. Most of these guys have been to two World Series and whatever you want to call that play-in game in October. This is now a veteran squad with a few young guys here and there.

But Young could ride off into the sunset in Philadelphia, in a hitter-friendly park against pitchers that aren’t used to seeing him. And a trade would ensure a fairly amicable split that would allow Rangers fans to hold on to the great memories without having to add a “Yeah, but those last couple of years …”

Seeing Young wasting away in the dugout would do nobody any good. The Rangers have demanded much from Young, and a storybook ending would have resulted in a World Series one of these last few years. But sports, and life, can be cruel.

Instead, Young should accept the trade knowing that even if he’s in a Phillies uniform next year, Rangers fans will always see him as a captain, Mr. Reliable, and — most important — ours.

It’s not a perfect ending, but when do we ever get those?