Breaking down the Phillies' signing of Delmon Young
The Phillies announced that they have signed Delmon Young to a one-year, $750,000 contract. Here's why the move makes some sense for the Phillies.
Breaking down the Phillies' signing of Delmon Young
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The Phillies announced that they have signed Delmon Young to a one-year, $750,000 contract.
Here's why the move makes some sense for the Phillies.
1) He is a career .307/.341/.483 hitter against left-handed pitching, including .308/.333/.500 last year.
2) He is better against righties than John Mayberry Jr. (.232/.302/.379 career line for Mayberry, .275/.307/.401 career line for Young).
3) While he is three years removed from his best campaign as a big leaguer, when he hit .298/.333/.493 with 21 home runs for the Twins in 2010, he will be just 27 years old this season.
4) The Phillies sure could use more right-handed power, and Young would provide an option, presumably at a cheap price.
That being said, Young is obviously an imperfect solution to an imperfect situation. He has had two straight below-major-league-average seasons, posting a .707 OPS and 89 OPS+ in 2012 and a .695 OPS and 90 OPS+ in 2011. He has played exclusively in left field since 2008, and we use the word "played" loosely, because Young is a notoriously bad defender. Which, of course, means that the Phillies could enter the season with three corner outfielders who have serious question marks on defense in Darin Ruf, Domonic Brown and Youg. It also gives the Phillies two right-handed bats in left field, and John Mayberry Jr. as the likely right-handed counterpart to balance out Domonic Brown in right field and back-up center fielder Ben Revere.
I haven't thought this through too deeply, but my initial thought is that this means Freddy Galvis likely starts the season in the minors, since Kevin Frandsen would fill the utility role, joining Mayberry, Young, Laynce Nix and Erik Kratz on the bench.
Comments (67)
The Phillies have created a real comic possibility with the names of their outfielders. They could have an outfield that is young, brown and ruf. Or, if that doesn't work, they can nix that plan. I was hoping for them to sign Michael Bourne so they could have an outfield that was bourne young brown and ruf! Now all they have to do is try to locate former infielder Randy Ready and you could have a team that is both ruf and ready. And they already have a team that is young young thanks to having Michael as well as Delmon.— gotedge- Hey shouter! Other teams pay people to judge talent and win games too and as far as I can tell, no National League team has acquired two DHs this offseason except for the Phillies. Nobody wants Delmon Young because he is a 1/2 tool player (above average power). The Rangers pay Jon Daniels to make the calls and he has a pretty good track record. He is willing to pay Michael Young $10 million to play for the Phillies this year. Can't stand these all-caps shouters who think they know more than all the successful professional talent evaluators in baseball from watching the tragic novice Amaro.— jtj10
- NEGADELPHIA,AS USUAL.WE DON'T WIN ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE FANS HERE THAT ASSUME THAT THEY KNOW MORE THAN FOLKS THAT ARE ACTUALLY PAID TO LOOK AT AND EVALUATE TALENT. IF THEY DON'T DO WHAT YOU LIKE, HERE COMES THE NAME CALLING INSTEAD OF OFFERING ANY SOLUTIONS OF YOUR OWN. BUT EASIER TO CALL PROFESSIONAL OWNERS OR TALENT EVALUATORS NAMES TO HAVE YOUR SENSE OF SATISFACTION, AINT IT? ARE ANY ONE OF YOU OWNERS, GMS OR COACHES? IF NOT THEN YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.WONDER HOW MOST OF YOU WOULD FEEL IF YOUR JOB WAS OUT THERE IN TTHE PUBLIC AND YOU HAD A BUNCH OF POSTERS TELLING YOU HOW STUPID OR IGNORANT YOU WERE AND TOSSING NAMES AT YOU....NO QUESTION THE ABSOLUTE WORST UNGRATEFUL FANS IN ANY CITY IN THE WORLD.— antmry312
- Jr.is really scraping the bottom of the barrel
IT IS WHAT IT IS!— frank martino - "Imperfect solution to an imperfect situation". Incomprehensible, but profound. Seems the Phils have become a team that lacks direction and identity. Our 2013 season has become one of high risk, low reward.— LI PhilPhan
- Young makes sense for the Phillies and only the Phillies because Amaro loves him some free swining, low on base, never walk, high outmaking players. It's as if he is trying to accumulate a roster of players who have accomplished the dubious feat of having an OBP lower than .300 in a season. Great news for opposing starting pitchers as they breeze through the line up, barely breaking a sweat, smiling and laughing on the mound. Middle relievers for opponents can take the day off and everyone gets home at a nice decent hour. Only Amaro! The guy has no grasp on simple math or how the sport works i.e. try to avoid making outs, not seek out the guys who make outs at the highest rates in the league.— jtj06
- Delmon will be this years Dontrelle!— larryv
- Nick Young > Michael Young > Delmon Young > Thaddeus Young— AHash
- mad genius Rube is getting prepared for the d.h. needed in road games against thea A.L. (and the World Series should they get there -hahahhahahh)...it's just the other 154 games that he hasn't quite thought about— warbiscuit
- both Amaro and Manuel belong in the A.L. --not that they'd do well there, just that they certainly have no clue how to put together a good team or win in the National League— warbiscuit
- smfree31....that has to be the most ridiculous comment i have ever heard in my life, and where exactly did you get the political facts of the crazy childrens parents? oh and by the way this is a sports article.— deatheater
- Young has AL written all over him. This is 2013's Jim Thome. The guy was a liability on the base paths before this year's ankle surgery. For a so-called power guy his SLG is almost 25 points lower than Mayberry's. He almost never walks.— s
- Alphonso Soriano is the perfect right-handed bat for this park,.....even more perfect than George Hendrick was for the Vet,....anyone remember him??,...than you know exactly what i mean,....Soriano could be had cheaply,...hahahaha ruin tomorrow jr— SyddBarrett
- Cheap, fine as iong as RUF starts
— WFChamps - Good move. Nothing in the way of salary and a quality bat. So what if he is a liability in the field and may be disruptive force in the clubhouse - still a better option than what we got now.— DG3
- Young won't even make it to opening day.
- Apparently, Ruben said today that he wants Young to be his everyday Right fielder.. ?...I mean.....? You all see where this is leading. Ruf to AAA, because...ok, altogether now...he..has...options. Ruf hit .333, with 3 HRs and 10 RBI in 33 ABs in his call up against MLB pitchers. Does that mean anything? Repeat after me...small....sample...size. If David Montgomery, the man who tied Ruben's hands this winter, ever donated his Brain to science, it should be labeled....small....sample.....size.— laser5
- Of course. Young hasn't played RF regularly since 2007. On the Phillies that means you get penciled in. Like Thome at first base a few times a week. Young's defensive numbers are better in RF than LF but he's only played LF for the past 5 years. And played it really poorly with an UZR in the -50 range.
He had ankle surgery recently. Maybe he'll start on DL.— s - This could be OK for the Phillies, but it's a big roll of the dice...— FanJab
- Not much of a gamble, actually. This is a 27-year-old with a checkered past -- had 18 HR and 74 RBI in 600 at bats last year on an excellent hitting team -- and we're paying $750,000, which is less than Phenom Frandsen and 1/5th what Nix and KK will make.
Oh, and Young's entire career is on the line. Amaro has been talking about low (financial) risk, high ceiling guys. Meet Delmon Young.
I could care less if Ruf starts at AAA or Galvis or Frandsen backs up Utley, Rollins and Michael Young. The backups are an hour away. They can keep a bag packed.
— eman - You can't pack a bag to be a late inning defensive replacement. I see value in having both Frandsen and Galvis on the bench. First off, Frandsen's either on it or gone. There's no place to send him. I would not let him walk until he proves last year was a complete fluke. Second point is Galvis is defensively better than anyone (or almost anyone) playing the infield. And he's been hitting well in winter ball. Let's start yanking him around and maybe we can get the same results we got with Brown. So then the choice is to not ride Ruf's current hot streak. If Ruf shows he was a one-year wonder in spring training that decision will be fine. But if he continues to light it up I can guarantee he can't possibly be a worse defensive outfielder than Young. But Young will have the contract and Ruf will have the options and we've seen how that's gone the past few years. And where it's gotten us. It's a bad move, brought about in large part because we hedged on Brown and Mayberry for three years rather than letting them slump through some necessary at-bats. Now we have a bunch of question marks. What better way to augment that than with another question mark. — s
- Low salary number. Worst case, they release him.— fmMD
- Brown should be in AAA enough with the potential thing.
— Pineapple Betafish - The thing I was looking forward to the most in 2013, at least early, was seeing what Darin Ruf could do with regular MLB playing time. Looks like that is out the window. Oh, but Brown will get yet another opportunity and Mayberry will continue to cash a MLB check. Seems fair that the guy who can bring some needed excitement is the guy who never gets a chance.— MrPhillie
- Will the organist play Hava Nagila when he walks to the plate?— eaglescali
- Prediction: he will be released before the season ends because no one will trade anything for him and he will be a cancer.
— HTBNM# - Why is everyone so sure that Darin Ruf will end up back in the minors? Why can't he hit .270 with 25 or 30 HR and 80-90 RBI (realistic numbers)? Anything better than that would be a bonus, but even at those numbers he would be a keeper. Why do people think he can't be the next late bloomer like Jayson Werth? Think positive, people!— SteveS11
- It's a numbers game. If they carry 12 pitchers and don't trade anyone, there are three players with options: Ruf, Galvis and (I think) Revere. If Revere has them there's no way he's being sent down. So it's a question of carrying 6 outfielders versus carrying your best defensive infielder off the bench. Do the math: 12 pitchers 2 catchers 4 infielders 3 starting outfielders leaves 4 bench spots for 3 outfielders, Frandsen and Galvis. — s
- Chris "Wheels" Wheeler just tweeted his peeps from a tiki bar in Florida this guy is "really, really good, gives Cholly some pop from the right side of the plate, likes the ball middle in so he can drop a head on it, and has been known as a no-doubles defense destroyer."— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- He'll be the DH during inter-league play.— cupajoe
- Playoff series MVP. I guess I see great people like Hamels and Utley as more of the exception in sports and my expectations are otherwise limited. I am willing to believe this guy may have grown up from all his mistakes. It does happen. RAJ has to make these tough decisions, not just speculate on them.— mlogan49
- I guess Elmer Valo wasn't available.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- The stupidity on here amazes me sometimes. This guy was ALCS MVP last year and we got him for 750k. Are u kidding me? PPL are actually complaining? Whats the friggin down side here? SO what if he screws up then, hes gone but what about his potential. I dont know about you guys but i remember the Phils last Playoff game. It was game 5 against the Cards and the Phils couldnt even muster a single run for Halladay who pitched lights up and gave up one stinking run over 9 inn.
I welcome live bats and guys who get up for big games. He has done damage in the last TWO playoffs. Im tired of Howard striking out 4 times a game or k'ing with bases loaded and one out to ruin rally. Both the YOUNG boys, Delmon and Michael have shown they can hit come playoff time. And thats all that matters. WIth this rotation and IF ppl can stay healthy there shouldnt be any issue with atleast a WC spot. SO, then the roster should be all about timely hitting and shutdown bullpen. These are the kind of moves that win playoff games. ANyone remember Matt Stairs?? - HUGE pickup for the Phils, I have to admit. I think this really puts them over the top in the NL East. Oh, well, at least we won the division last year!— Curlydubs
- low character guy who doesn't exactly set my world on fire— Sam Crow
- as a GM, especially with a team where you have holes / unproven players, how do you not take a risk like this. Good move. This is really his last shot as a major league player, so you should be getting a motivated player. Very easy to cut ties if somehow he is outplayed by the younger guys or has any mis-steps. You have a strong locker room, so its not like he can singlehandedly sink the ship with guys like Howard, Doc, Utley, M Young. And the potential for him to be a solid contributor exists, and another right-handed bat which is sorely needed.— dfresh
- Hope his attitude is better, but heck, Young WAS ALCS MVP last fall and is only 27 - definitely worth a shot at such a low price!— CrotchetyOldMan
- I don't get what the problem is. Worst case is he a experienced pinch hitter for 700k.— KINGOFZED
- all you armchair gm's need to make sure your show ur face after the phils win the division this year. love how every move they make you come on here crying. stick to your opinions while charlie, howard, and the guys w the rings win games. meanwhile give prima donnas cliff lee and roy halladay free passes bc they're wh...?— 420Phillie
- "all you armchair gm's need to make sure your show ur face after the phils win the division this year. "
I've been a Phillies fan for 50 years, and I've been around here for almost a decade.
I've very publicly said this is a 72-90 team, that their infield is old and injured, their outfield is mediocre, their pitching staff is a shambles, and that Hamels is the only remaining superstar on the team.
For reference I picked last year's record within one win/loss.
— fmMD - On paper it is worth little - in the clubhouse it's a huge negative.
Cholly can't handle Jimmy's attitude which is minor compared to the baggage Young brings.— majpooper - Well, Chollie is already skating on thin ice. If he can't manage a major league player, then its time for him to be put out to pasture.
— fmMD - No one is this city is ever happy. The move is low risk/high reward. All the complainers will be wearing Delmon jerseys if he has 15 HRs by the AS break. Just sit back and watch. Jesus...— bleck78
- 750,00 peanuts....love it— lewisbratspis
- I don't like this move at all. Hate this guy's attitude. I'd rather they just threw Ruf out there to sink or swim. Goes to show the desperation that RAJ has.— BigAfromBucks
- Detroit had the worst defensive outfielders in the league last year and Young DH'd. That's how bad he is.— ArtieLange
- I don't like what it means for the bench. Barring injury or carrying 11 pitchers for a while, Galvis or Ruf are likely to start in AAA. If they traded Nix things would look better to me. Problem there is Young is horrible defensively, whereas Nix isn't too bad and can also play 1B.— s
- phils outfield hitters now are Ruf(right), Revere(switch), Mayberry(right), Brown(left), Nix(left) and Young(right). are we right handed heavy now? are we going with Nix, Revere and Brown against right handed pitchers? don't want to see a lot of Nix this season, here's hoping someone plays their way into the lineup. good pickup if Jimmy and Ryan can straighten him out on the antics.— high water
- Of course you think this makes sense.— phillysports2
- I have a feeling that this might turn out really well for the phils. I think, at least hope, that young's antics were a wake-up call for him. Think about it: he is taking over a $5million pay cut because of his off field nonsense. Maybe, just maybe, something will finally sink in, and he'll dedicate himself to his profession. If he does, look out. He's only 27, and has the ability. If he works, he can also be, at the very least, a serviceable outfielder...even in RF. And factor in the environment he's coming into: Utley, Howard, Rollings, Michael Young, Halladay, Lee, Hamels, chooch...all consummate professionals...and chollie and ryne sandberg. Surely that has to rub off. And I can see at least some of those guys taking young under their wing. Think Miguel Cabrera (lost tons of weight, rededicated himself, and had monster year).— johnandursula
- Two problems with that: 1 this isn't the first time he screwed up really badly. He threw a bat at an ump in the minors and 2 he was on the SAME TEAM as Miguel Cabrera last year. What ever veteran presence helped Cabrera had no effect on D. Young. — Everybodyhitshooha
- I don't see this going well. He will think that he is entitled to a fair shake which some will undoubtedly not give him. So he will see himself as a victim at the same time Amaro has brought the equivalent of David Duke (former KKKer for those who are not old enough to remember) to the team.
It's not a case where people will choose to forget. Delmon Young will be as unhappy with Philadelphia as Philadelphia will be with him.— Claudio Vernight - This sets up Galvis, Ruf, and Biddle for Justin UPton.— AHash
- Delmon Young, what wasn't Milton Bradley available? lazy with a bad attitude. he should help the phils secure 4th place— stayoutofphilly
- Delmon Young meet Ryne Sandberg...— Dobie Gillis
- I have to look real hard for the up side of this move. Maybe it is an attempt to take pressure off Darrin Ruf. Best case scenario? Ruf is lights-out in the spring and takes it into the regular season. I just don't like guys like Delmon Young.
— Original #11 - Jeez, its baseball not a "love everybody meeting"— Manny Trillo
- Right or wrong, like the fire he brings to the team. We've missed this attitude since Myers left...ironically that was the last season that the Phils won their last game.— Professor1982
- He meets your dopey requirements of being a bully and thug. Must mean he carries a NRA card because you are all moist — Friend to All
- Um, not that facts ever matter to you guys, but EVERY mass shooting was perpetrated by a registered Democrat or, in the Columbine case where the shooters were too young to vote, children of ultra-liberal, registered democrats.
None, repeat- none were by NRA members.
Again, facts never matter to your agenda, I'm 100% sure you'll keep spouting the same lies regardless. I just like pointing it out.
Kinda makes you wonder though, if you knowingly need to lie to support your side, why are you on that side?— smfree31 - delmon is also a 'high-character' addition.
hates minorities (though he is one) and hit an ump in the head with a baseball bat once (on purpose).
total scum. (hope he hits bombs for us this yr though)
ha, ruin tomorrow jr. havent heard that one yet— drumminge6 - A major league team is more than the sum of its parts. It is a delicate balance of personalities and I worry that Delmon Young will not add anything positive to the mix in this clubhouse. To put an alcoholic bigot into a mix of the kind of dedicated athletes the Phillies have beought together may upset the balance. Think of Bret Myers---a very competent pitcher but a spouse-abusing drunk who spent more time talking about his beer than his pitching. They could have gotten him back for the bullpen but said "No thank you." At least the money they invested is chump change. It is not enough to have to worry about playing him. After his tirade, what makes him any different than John Rocker who talked himself out of baseball with his bigoted comments? I just can't see his attitude being tolerated by the likes of Ryan Howard, Jimmie Rollins, Chase Utley and especially Doc, Cliff and Cole. And is having a virulent anti-semite in the locker room fair to Michael Schwimmer? I know he isn't a star, but he is a Phillie and earned the right to be respected---even if he is no more than a marginal talent.— gotedge
- I do like the fact that he can hit lefties and that he has produced in the Playoffs. That said, this does not change the fact that Ruin Tomorrow Jr. has assembled the worst OF in the Majors.— Copper34
- Agree 100% with Copper34. At this point it is not a bad signing. The problem is that we are at this point. — gtnestro
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