8:34pm: If he makes the big league roster, Young will receive a $1MM base salary and could earn up to $750K in incentives, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
5:49pm: The Orioles have signed outfielder Delmon Young to a minor league contract with a Spring Training invite, the club announced. We heard earlier today that Baltimore was interested in the 28-year-old, who is represented by Wasserman Media Group.
Once considered the game's top prospect, Young has failed to live up to his billing in that respect. He is generally viewed as a negative defender from the corner outfield, and has a career .739 OPS over eight seasons and 3,936 plate appearances. Young spent 2013 with the Phillies and Rays, putting up a cumulative .260/.307/.407 line with 11 homers in 361 plate appearances. His performance improved upon joining Tampa, as he registered a 117 OPS+ over his 70 plate appearances there.
Nevertheless, Young's right-handed bat has played up against lefties, against whom he has a career .303/.341/.471 triple-slash. As MLBTR's Steve Adams noted earlier today, Young could slot in as a DH and/or part-time left fielder for the O's, particularly if he is mostly limited to facing southpaws. Baltimore has added a number of possible outfield options over the last few months, including Quintin Berry, Xavier Paul, David Lough, and Francisco Peguero. Among those players, only Peguero swings from the right side.
Stash him for the playoffs, the man is clutch
I want to see a post-season roster of Delmon Young, Juan Uribe, and Carlos Beltran.
this is a good pickup. As long as he has not sustained major injuries, he has always been a good player.
Delmon Young has produced a 1.5 WAR over the course of his eight year career. That is an average of a 0.1875 WAR per season…Baseball-Reference is generous too. Fangraphs has pegged him accumulating a -1.2 WAR in his life. That would be an average of -0.15 WAR per season. There is no such thing as a bad minor league deal, but saying Young is a “good player” is simply ridiculous.
Seeing as the O’s won’t spend money on big name players, or even mid-level, but have to rely on finding players on the cheap, this isn’t a bad move at all when you dig a little deeper into the teams needs. They traded Danny Valencia who was one of the few players to hit LHP. The O’s finished 1 game over .500 vs LHP so I consider that a weakness. The O’s struggled heavily with RISP weakness #2. When the O’s saw the playoffs they had 1 player who hit and that player was Nate McLouth and they let him walk weakness #3 no clutch, postseason hitting. He might not appear to be a “good player” when broadly relying on simple stats and fairy-tale WAR numbers, but when you consider the Orioles needs vs LHP, w/ RISP, playoff experience + clutch hitting Delmon Young fills every single one of those voids. Plus he rakes against the yankees who the O’s will play 18+ times this year.
Career vs NYY: .301/.332/.421 3 HR, 16 2B, 24 RBI, 63 H in 209 AB
Career at Camden Yards: .321/.376/.440 93 Plate Appearances
Career w/ Runners in Scoring Pos: .306/.336/.445 301 H in 983 AB
Career Vs. LHP: .303/.341/.471
Postseason Exp: 33 Games Played: 31 Hits, 9 HR, 14 R, 18 RBI, .859 OPS
Orioles needs:
» vs LHP
» w/ RISP
» Clutch Hitters
» Successful Postseason Hitters
» Yankee Killers
So bad player but a really good fit for the Orioles.
Great post, Omazing.
Yeah…the only statistic out of that bunch that really matters is his numbers against LHP. All others are flukes, random good luck, and the outcome of a small sample size.
I think hitting in the clutch tends to be pretty important but that might just be me. Also, the playoffs usually have some importance but yeah your right that one doesn’t help you in the regular season.
And I know you are smart enough to realize that 1,091 Plate Appearances with Runners In Scoring Position is NOT a small sample size.
I understand that, but the number fluctuates so much I can’t trust it. It’s worse than reliever’s up and down production. In 2010, Young hit to a very good .911 OPS. In 2011, it dropped to .778. In 2012, it dropped from .702. Last year, it dropped to .636. .911 to .778 to .702 to .636. I’m convinced over time, a player will hit very similarly with RISP to his overall career numbers.
Take him out of the field and what is his WAR then?
In his career Young has produced a 6.6 oWAR. Take out 2010 and it is 3.6 over eight seasons. Even with 2010 included, his average is 0.825 oWAR a season.
Well WAR only means so much if the guy isn’t getting a chance to play every day. If Cabrera only played 18 games in a season what would his WAR be?
Delmon Young has (somehow) played in over 100 games the last seven seasons.
Delmon Young is 27 years old. He is a lower risk than an unknown. He has proven plate experience and he isn’t the worst player in the league. No he isn’t an every day player. But he is a good cheap pickup. No Matt, he won’t be in the allstar game in 2014 or any other year but he is a quality utility or bench player that has proven he can drive in runs with runners in scoring position. WAR is not the end all be all of stats.
1. He is 28 years old.
2. There is no risk. It’s a minor league signing, that’s the point.
3. WAR is not a perfect number, but it does simplify value into one, easy number. It signifies how painfully replacement level Young has been over the course of his career.
I just wanted to prove that Delmon Young is in no way a “good player”. He could be useful if he NEVER touched the field, and was limited strictly to LHP. Also, you said he hasn’t gotten a chance to play everyday, which he obviously has, for the most part.
He was once considered the top prospect in baseball. The kid has talent, just hasn’t put it all together yet. Good signing.
A lot of people thought Chris Davis was a “bust” too… just saying?
He still might, but not last year. Oh no he wasn’t. What a year he had!
Chris Davis was 25 at the time of his trade to Baltimore. Delmon Young is 28. Davis had played in 266 games with Texas before being trading to Baltimore. Young has played in nearly 1000. Davis was in his fourth season, while Young just completed eight. Davis actually still had the potential to play in the majors everyday. Young has no chance of that.
I never said it wasn’t a bad signing. There is no such thing as a bad minor league signing, as there is no risk. Like Jeffy2 said, he has the body of a 38 year old. See my post below on Delmon Young’s “potential”.
Playing him the way you suggest is call Moneyball, which is what The Duke seemingly plans to do with so little financial resources from cheap Angelos.
so they signed a dh who has a negative impact when playing in the field which takes away most of his negative value. he is young enough to perhaps reach the potential he had and be looked at as a late bloomer. even if he doesn’t he can crush lefties and loves hitting in the ballpark he’s in.
They signed a DH against LHP only. The Delmon Young that you’ve seen the last three years in the Delmon Young you’ll get in 2014. He can be useful if he never touches the field and hits against LHP only.
He’s 28, in the body of a 38 year old, with the maturity of an 8 year old.
Young isn’t so bad down in the minors for depth. But he is a really bad ball player who keeps getting opportunities.
His contract will include incentives such as, “One free meal at Old Country Buffet per home run hit.”
hehe. Certainly he should have incentives based upon the number of Atbats he gets. The guy can hit he just isn’t getting the opportunity to hit.
He has played nearly 1000 ML games including four season of over 150 games. If he hasnt gotten an opportunity then I dont know what more you can ask.
Hasn’t gotten the opportunity?
Are we thinking about the same player?
Wait, wouldn’t that jeopardize the weight clause in his contract?
My mistake, this isn’t last year, and Ruben Amaro isn’t the GM of the Orioles, hence the lack of something THAT ridiculous in this deal….
Poor guy is gonna starve then.
He should be DH on some AL team, he can hit, just don’t expect him to be some savior.
As we were told last year, good luck with that. He can get hot (had a 24 game stretch where he slashed .370/.400/.470), but he can get equally as cold (had a 40 game period where he slashed .220/.270/.370).
That link to the 2006 Top 100 prospects was a fun read. Interesting to see who made it and who is still around.
It’s funny how among the top 10, only two really lived up to their potential Verlander and Cain. Upton still has time but he’s been disappointing in many respects. The rest have either been outright busts or above average (which, in the case of a top 10 prospect, is a “disappointing” result).
For sure. And back then the Cardinals only had one prospect (Anthony Reyes) on the whole list. How things have changed
I love Troy Tulowitzki’s blurb. “He’s better than Bobby Crosby.” LOL
Great. Another repellent defender, another failed draft pick, another cast off.
Apparently those are the only kind of players that Dan seems to want.
of players who are available who would you like them to sign
Someone better?
If fan had done his work in November we wouldn’t have this peoblem
Not much better you can do than Delmon Young on a Minor League Deal. It’s a good risk to take.
Absolutely. Dude hits LHPs very well. As the RH half of a DH platoon/PH, he could be pretty darn useful.
Wouldn’t it be nice to go out and get someone who IS good, rather than someone who might eventually be good-or ok- or who was good-or OK way back when?
I don’t mind picking up failed players, unless that’s ALL a GM is doing.
Still think there is a big signing coming for The O’s.
As a lifelong birds fan, don’t hold your breath.
Fan since 1947…Angelo’s is getting old and wants to win more than ever. Just might be ready to spend .
Os apparently asked for ervin santana’s medical records could be nothing but be exciting if it was something
…..holding my breath!
Lord I hope not. Wasting a draft pick and big money on Ervin “I led the Majors in HRs allowed while posting an ERA well over 5.00 as recently as 2012” Santana would make this offseason a complete failure.
I love this pick up!! Dude can rake, I can’t believe he was still available! Good signing..
I cant tell if that is true excitement or sarcasm. If it is true excitement you shouldnt be quite as excited and if it is sarcasm its a minor league deal so no harm no foul
Ruben, is that you?
I like the signing..if he doesn’t even smell the outfield grass.
Young’s a good player, as long as he plays absolutely no defense and only has to face lefties. Other than that, he’s solid.
Totally agree I’m glad he isn’t on my Twins anymore even though sadly they did trade for him
More leftovers. He might actually be a useful role player, but Danny Valencia was better in that role.
I think he is going to make the big league roster
I don’t understand why the Tribe wouldn’t take a flyer on him, but felt the need to sign Frenchy Francouer to the same deal. Awesome 2012-2013 offseason Chris Antonetti, but this year is a total trainwreck.
As a Phillies fan, I can only say that Delmon Young is one of those players you can only truly “appreciate” after you see him start night after night. He’s just a special guy.
I sense sarcasm here.
However, if he starts hitting the way his potential showed when he first came into the league, he is an adequate left fielder.
I have no idea why Ruby and Company thought he could play right field.
He has no arm and would never be mistaken fore Glenn Wilson
Ahh, the classic Delmon-trap. The fan of the new team that he goes to, thinking that he’ll finally play up to his potential – even though the fans of his old teams can tell you he won’t. It sucks. You’ll realize it next year.
Career vs NYY: .301/.332/.421 3 HR, 16 2B, 24 RBI, 63 H in 209 AB
Career at Camden Yards: .321/.376/.440 93 Plate Appearances
Career w/ Runners in Scoring Pos: .306/.336/.445 301 H in 983 AB
Career Vs. LHP: .303/.341/.471
Postseason Exp: 33 Games Played: 31 Hits, 9 HR, 14 R, 18 RBI, .859 OPS
Orioles needs:
» vs LHP
» w/ RISP
» Clutch Hitters
» Successful Postseason Hitters
» Yankee Killers
What have you done for me lately?
Don’t the Orioles need a DH? He and a Urrita platoon would be good.
Wow he is only 28?
That prospect list is quite a fun read! Nothing like trying to guess who will actually make it all these years later.
nnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :'(
Low risk, probably low reward, but what the heck.
Delmon Young played in 5 playoff series for the Tigers.
He had the highest OPS on the team (including Cabrera) for THREE of them.
If you believe that mediocre players can be clutch when it is playoff time, then you should believe in Delmon Young.
Low risk, probably low reward, but what the heck.
This is potentially a good sign but Delmon needs to seriously focus on baseball to resurrect his once semi-promising career. The one season he put it all together (2010 with the Twins) he was in tremendous physical shape, showed better plate discipline, and just murdered fastballs. Every season since, he has been on a steady decline.
Abuse of statistics?
They are the exact stats in which the O’s need.
He’s a great fit according to those needs in a platoon form.
Valencia-type player who gets AB’s against LH can hop off the bench and give the team a lift when called upon. I don’t see abuse in any word I wrote. 209 AB isn’t a small sample size. I could see if maybe he had 15 AB against them. Not a lot of hitters are +.300 avg hitters w/RISP. And not a lot of hitters can hit in the postseason. This guy can. Those are pretty legit needs.
Ok well back to my main point Young is viewed as a bad player but he will be a perfect fit for the O’s based on the nonabusive stats I listed. Good cheap signing.
115 wRC+ vs LHP and a .303 career BA. How does defense come into play as a DH?
There’s a reason you’ve dubbed yourself Assistant TO and not Assistant. What starting role is he taking for the O’s OF? Do they currently have a DH? Reimold & Pearce are nothing special there’s 2 players already on the roster that aren’t 1/2 a player combined. Add Clevenger to that and they make 5/8’s a player maybe. Splits are splits my friend, a good manager will put his players in a position to succeed, and Young as a RH platoon even at the DH, where there is zero potential for anyone else to run away with the job and not a whole lot of spending to take place on another player coming in… isn’t a terrible option. And since as I clearly laid out for you 115 wRC+ vs LHP is +26 over his 89 wRC+ vs RHP it’d behoove them to play him in a platoon situation. Please lay out your genius plan for all to see…