Phillies interested in Twins' Delmon Young?
Phillies baseball personnel have been asking pointed questions about Twins outfielder Delmon Young, the former overall No. 1 draft choice of Tampa Bay, according to sources.
Phillies interested in Twins' Delmon Young?
Paul Hagen
Paul Hagen reporting from the winter meetings in Las Vegas:
Throwing out the ceremonial first rumor of the winter meetings ...
Phillies baseball personnel have been asking pointed questions about Twins outfielder Delmon Young, the former overall No. 1 draft choice of Tampa Bay, sources told the Daily News. Young is probably best known for a 2006 incident when he was suspended 50 games in the minor leagues for throwing his bat at an umpire. (See the video of the incident below.)
He was traded to the Twins after the 2007 season. The Phils are believed to be looking for a replacement for Pat Burrell, who is not expected to re-sign.
Young has yet to show Burrell’s power. He’s hit just 26 home runs in 1,346 big-league at bats. Last season he batted .290 with 10 homers and 69 RBI for Minnesota. But he’s still just 23 years old.
The Twins have an excess in the outfield with Michael Cuddyer returning from an injury-plagued season, Carlos Gomez (who came from the Mets in the Johan Santana trade) and Denard Span, who has established himself as their leadoff hitter.
So they are apparently willing to listen to offers for Young. A potential snag from the Phillies perspective is that they almost certainly would ask for top prospect Jason Donald and are also seeking bullpen help.
Young has developed a reputation for being somewhat hardheaded and uncoachable, one of the reasons Tampa Bay was willing to trade him. At the same time, he’s still just 23 years old, clearly has talent and appears to fit a Phillies need.
After we trade for Delmon maybe we can make an offer to Latrell Sprewell to fill in at 2nd base until Utley comes back— Ni Boo- Like to see Charlie and Young tangle. Wonder who would still be standing! Young had a little less pop against lefthanded pitchers than Burrell in 08. In 186 plate appearances he hit 4 homers and drove in 19 runs. Burrell against lefthanded pitchers in 192 plate appearances hit 7 homers and drove in 20 runs.— Dull
- How young is Young.? [ and } 50 games for......... throwing a bat at a umpire. Why not A.I. ......... no practice there too.— wes
- NO! NO! NO!— cadilacjack
Comment removed.- What exactly do you people think you could get for Clay Condrey? I don't care what his numbers look like...I'm pretty sure others around the league know he's a garbage time pitcher and can't get you any outs when you need one...not to mention the Phillies may just wind up releasing the guy because they don't have anymore room in there bullpen. As for Jason Donald, he's not a 3rd baseman or an outfielder...he's a middle infielder. If you can get something for the guy now, get it. I realize he'd fit at second if/when Howard leaves (with Utley moving to first), but that won't be for another 3 years so why keep the guy if there's nowhere to put him. That said, I wouldn't trade him for a headcase that has no power. Donald should be able to net the Phils a better OF than Delmon Young.— Billy The Kid
- DR Heller: what on earth are you talking about??? Rollins and Howard are under Phils control for the next three years. Are you talking about 3 years from now? Bizarre.— fiveforone
- Zwarte, who is this adequate talent that the Phillies have on their bench or in the minors that you speak of? Dobbs? ...he can't hit lefties. Geoff Jenkins? ...he can't hit lefties OR righties! ...Matt Stairs? ...nice bench player, but not a guy who can play everyday. In the minors? ...the Phillies have no major league ready OF in their system unless the guy they got from the Rangers (for Golson) suddenly developes into a player. Sure, the Phillies need to add an arm to their starting rotation, but to ignore the hole in their outfield and in their lineup (they're way too left-handed right now) is insane.— Billy The Kid
- Well it was a Ball. I'm just sayin'.— Phillies
- I'd rather add a quiet and consistent guy than big upside and a head case. Phils already have one of those... some guy named Myers. It's one thing to deal with that inconsistency every 5 games on the mound but every day in the outfield? No thanks!— birds4ever
- Moving Donald to the outfield is idiotic...get a clue...and I agree with BTK, Donald should get us more than Delmon Young.— Discostu
- Sheesh. Somebody get Billy the Kid a paper bag to breathe into before he passes out. Calm down dude!! You sound like that Billy the Kid the Mets overpaid for...— birds4ever
- luv it!— Super5
- This guy threw a bat at an umpire in the minors after getting called out on strikes. that is a little more than a "reputation for being somewhat hard-headed." we do not need a guy like this. we already won the World Series (remember?). Why do a TO move and sell your soul to try and win one?— gobirds556
- No Thank you! It's too high a price for another potential T.O. type player.
