Phildelphia Phillies Sign Delmon Young
by Michael DeLuca
Just a little over one month ago, I presented the argument for the Philadelphia Phillies to sign outfielder Delmon Young. Yesterday, the club did just that, announcing a $750,000 contract that includes various bonus incentives that could total an additional 2.75 million dollars for Young.
According to the Associated Press, “The deal for the AL championship series MVP, announced Tuesday, calls for him to get on a scale on six occasions to be chosen by the team. He’ll receive $100,000 each time he makes weight, according to details obtained by The Associated Press. The first three times, he must be 230 pounds or less, and the second three, 235 pounds or less.
Young also would earn a $250,000 bonus for being on the active roster for one day, and $100,000 each for 40, 80, 120 and 160 days.
He can earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses: $150,000 each for 250, 300, 350 and 400 plate appearances; $200,000 apiece for 450 and 500; and $250,000 each for 550 and 600.
Young lost 30 pounds between the 2009 and 2010 seasons, when he was with the Minnesota Twins. He went up to 239 before dropping to 207.”
As I opined in December, “Young has the pedigree that that leads many to believe he still has a high ceiling and that his best days are still to come. He was the first overall pick in the 2003 draft but has been labeled a bust by many after hitting just .267 and an on base percentage of just .299 over the last two seasons. He averaged 15 home-runs and 69 RBI’s over that span. On the bright side, Young has proven to be a clutch performer, hitting .280 with eight home runs (team postseason homer-runs record) and 15 RBIs in 22 postseason games for the Tigers over the last two years. Young could definitely prosper from the move to the National League and 81 home games in the friendly confines of homer friendly Citizen’s Bank Park.”
