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.
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
- 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
- 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 - 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 - Jeez, its baseball not a "love everybody meeting"— Manny Trillo
- 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 - Delmon Young meet Ryne Sandberg...— Dobie Gillis
- Delmon Young, what wasn't Milton Bradley available? lazy with a bad attitude. he should help the phils secure 4th place— stayoutofphilly
- This sets up Galvis, Ruf, and Biddle for Justin UPton.— AHash
- 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
- 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 - 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
