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
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.
Of course you think this makes sense.— phillysports2- 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
- 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
- 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 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
- 750,00 peanuts....love it— lewisbratspis
- 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
- 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 - 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 - I don't get what the problem is. Worst case is he a experienced pinch hitter for 700k.— KINGOFZED
- 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
- 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
- low character guy who doesn't exactly set my world on fire— Sam Crow
