Twins, Young Agree To ‘Split’ Contract

According to the Associated Press, via Yahoo! Sports, the Twins have agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.152MM split contract with outfielder Delmon Young.  I’ll let the AP explain this one:

Young gets a raise from the $700,000 he made last season, but his salary is technically being cut the maximum allowable 20 percent when the final prorated share of his initial $3.7 million signing bonus ($770,000) is factored in.

Since Tampa Bay gave him a $5.8 million, five-year deal after selecting him with the first overall pick in the 2003 amateur draft, the $1,152,000 figure was the least Young could have made in 2009 despite not being eligible for arbitration.

Young hit .290/.336/.405 with 10 dingers and 69 RBI last season, but might struggle to find playing time in a crowded outfield this year.  If he’s unable to stay in the majors, his salary gets bumped down to $864K.  Young, as most readers will recall, has been at the center of various trade rumors this offseason.