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.
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- 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?? - I guess Elmer Valo wasn't available.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- 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
- He'll be the DH during inter-league play.— cupajoe
- 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
- 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
- Prediction: he will be released before the season ends because no one will trade anything for him and he will be a cancer.
— HTBNM# - Will the organist play Hava Nagila when he walks to the plate?— eaglescali
- 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
- Brown should be in AAA enough with the potential thing.
— Pineapple Betafish - Low salary number. Worst case, they release him.— fmMD
- 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
