He was easily one of the Tigers top hitters in the playoffs this past year, batting .313 with 3 home runs and 9 RBIs. He also became the Tigers all-time leader in postseason home runs and the first player of all time with four game-winning RBIs in a single postseason series (against New York in the ALCS). Yet – as a die-hard Tigers fan – I was very pleased with GM Dave Dombrowski’s decision to part with the former first overall pick.
In Young, the Phillies get a player with a great deal of talent. He’s not only got the potential to hit 30 homers and drive in 100 runs (though his best season to date is 21/112 in 2010), but he has the ability to hit for a decent average while doing so. Young is a career .284 hitter and his single-season best came in that blow-up year of 2010 where he hit .298. There’s a reason Young was selected first overall by the Devil Rays in 2003, but there are a few more reasons why he’s yet to become an elite MLB player.
Now Young has only signed to a 1-year, $750,000 contract, but recent word from Phillies GM Ruben Amaro hints at the fact that the team is planning on inking him in as an every day Right Fielder.
Not only is Young notoriously a dreadful outfielder – just ask the White Sox – but he hasn’t played Right Field since 2007. The Tigers exclusively played him in left when the DH spot was occupied and it’s pretty disconcerting to hear this new intent of the Phillies. Young seems to be far better suited for the American League (where he’s played his entire career so far) with the option to DH available.
But even from an offensive perspective, it’s hard to know what you’re really going to get out of Young. He’s undoubtedly had his moments. In his last two postseason runs with Detroit, he has come up huge, and 2010 was surely a monster year for him as well, but aside from that, Young’s career has mostly been disappointing. At best, you could be getting an all-star caliber hitter, but that seems like a heck of a gamble at this point. Again, not too much money is invested, but let’s slow down before we start writing him into daily lineup cards.
Then lastly, Young underwent surgery in November to remove bone spurs in one of his ankles and there is a possibility he could start the season on the DL. It may not be much of a concern, but it was something the Tigers and a lot of other teams looking for offensive help this offseason took into consideration, causing the asking price for Young to decrease quite a bit.
Which Young will show up in Philadelphia? Maybe a shift from the AL to the NL will help turn over a new leaf, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Originally Posted on faniq.com: http://www.faniq.com/blog/Delmon-Young-a-Good-Fit-in-Philly-Blog-60892
Delmon was a frustratingly streaky hitter. But I’ll remember him fondly, if only because of his batting heroics in game 1 against the Yankees this past post-season. Jose Valverde might feel the same way.