The Orioles have some interest in adding both Delmon Young and Jack Cust on minor league deals, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Each player will be at the Orioles' minicamp tomorrow to see if there's a potential fit on a non-roster deal, according to Kubatko. Baltimore also has some interest in a reunion with Mark Reynolds, though nothing is hot on that front for now, according to Kubatko (All links to Twitter).
Young, 28, batted .260/.307/.407 with 11 homers in 361 plate appearances for the Phillies and Rays in 2013. He performed significantly better with the Rays overall, as he posted a .699 OPS (92 OPS+) with the Phillies and a .780 mark (117 OPS+) with the Rays. Young is regarded as a poor defensive player but has handled lefties well throughout his career and could fill a DH/part-time left field role for Baltimore.
Cust, who turns 35 on Thursday, hasn't appeared in the Majors since 2011 with the Mariners when he batted .213/.344/.329 in 270 plate appearances. After a solid year with the Triple-A affiliates for the Yankees and Blue Jays in 2012 (he batted .243/.400/.442 in 114 games), Cust sat out the 2013 season. Cust didn't have a long peak, but he was very good for the A's from 2007-10 when he batted .247/.381/.457 and averaged 24 homers per season. In 2008, he paced the American League with 111 walks and also belted 33 homers.
Reynolds spent two seasons with the O's, batting .221/.328/.458 with 60 homers from 2011-12. However, Baltimore elected to non-tender him rather than go through arbitration a final time heading into the 2013 campaign. Reynolds latched on with the Indians on a one-year deal. After a blistering April, he cooled off and was ultimately released before signing with the Yankees. He hit .220/.306/.393 with 21 homers overall last season.
I would be fine with all 3. Young and Cust for AAA depth and Reynolds as a DH/Utility guy
Agree with Reynolds. Short term help with Machado if he’s not ready from the get go and can fill in for Davis at 1st. The other 2 are of no use however. 1 is a problem child that can’t hit, nor play defense and the other just can’t hit anymore.
If they agree to sit in Norfolk I don’t see the harm. Not to many high end position players coming through the farm
That’s some very…. shallow depth
If, and only if, these moves would be about depth, fine. But if the O’s expect these players to be significant parts of the team, then we are in trouble. Gotta say, I have hated what the O’s have done this offseason. Signing Balfour was great until they backed out. Oh, I liked the reliever they signed from the Marlins.
It couldn’t hurt to sign Young and Cust to minor league deals. Reynolds on a 1-year deal would be nice too.
Maybe MLBTR could start a “Page 2” for minor news.
As an Oriole fan, these headlines are getting embarrassing.
This is great news! O’s are putting together a winner!
at what level? AAA?
Breaking News: O’s seek to add more K’s to 2014 lineup
O’s Not Interested In Contending
I would take on Delmon Young just to see how he would do if he solely focused on hitting. He proved to be effective when he was on the Rays where he was primarily in the DH role.
Cust? Is this a joke? Maybe Delmon Young, but pass on Cust, and Reynolds.
I always thought Reynolds did a pretty good job with the Orioles; bring him back!
I sure hadn’t thought about either Young or Cust. Don’t forget that we had Cust. He seemed to be another version of Jay Gibbons but that might not be fair. (I refer to the muscles and all-or-nothing approach to hitting.) Reynolds is a good guy who might provide an additional bat, although I don’t remember him doing too well if he wasn’t also playing in the field (which he doesn’t do too well, except at 1B which we have covered). Still, if any of these guys can be had for a bargain, I’d like to see us take a flier. We certainly need to do something…
Not terrible low risk minor league contract signings. The bad part is this is starting to feel like this is all DD is going to do.
I am not sure there is a whole lot left on the DH market that really makes any sense for the Os. I think young is an upgrade over what we have without having to give up a draft pick like we would for morales
Well, when he first took the job, he said he was going to build thru the draft.
However, what he is doing is nothing short of awful!
I can’t imagine what Fan Fest is going to be like!
O’s fans need to let him hear it!
Jack Cust? Oh my.
Our sources tell us Delmon Young won’t sign a minor league contract …
Your source needs a new job
I honestly can’t fathom why the Orioles are interesting in bringing in these guys, yet are so opposed to bringing back Wilson Betemit.
I understand the Young move. He’s a good hitter against left handed pitching and the O’s lost Valencia so he could essentially fill his role. Cust…I honestly thought he was in softball leagues by now. Reynolds is alright but I don’t want him touching a glove unless he’s giving Davis a day off at first.