5:44pm: Kubatko says that GM Dan Duquette sounded confident that he’ll be able to trade Young, though a deal won’t be completed today (Twitter link).
5:20pm: The Orioles announced (Twitter link) that they have designated outfielder Delmon Young for assignment. A little more than an hour ago, manager Buck Showalter indicated to reporters that a move was coming soon in order to clear a spot on the roster for right-hander Tyler Wilson. MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko tweets that the O’s will try to trade Young, and GM Dan Duquette has spoken to execs in both the AL and the NL about him.
The 29-year-old Young is in the midst of his second season with the Orioles after signing a one-year, $2.25MM contract this offseason to return to Baltimore. However, after enjoying a nice run as a part-time player with the Orioles in 2014 when he batted .302/.337/.442 in 255 plate appearances, Young has struggled to a .270/.289/.339 batting line in 2015. Though he has a strong throwing arm, Young’s range is limited in the corner outfield spots. He is still owed $1.19MM through season’s end and would earn $125K bonuses for reaching 250 and 300 plate appearances, with another $100K kicking in for every 50 PAs beyond that point — up to 600 PAs.
Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reported earlier today that the Orioles have been exploring trade possibilities for Young, and he again tweets that one NL club has shown some definite interest in Young. It’s not known at this time which team is showing the most interest, but from a speculative standpoint, I’d think that both the Giants and Pirates make some sense. San Francisco recently lost both Hunter Pence and Nori Aoki to the disabled list, and over in Pittsburgh, Gregory Polanco has looked overmatched by left-handed pitching all season. Young, for all of his flaws, is a weapon against lefties; he’s batted .302/.337/.461 in his career when holding the platoon advantage.
Pittsburgh?
Please no. Can’t field at all.
Bad move. He’s in his prime
Good Move:
Zapped of power, only hits singles, swings at everything, can’t field to save his life.
If this is his prime, he belongs in the independent league
What? Have you been watching the O’s this year? I watch every game every year, and Delmon is definitely the odd man out. He was decent in a part time bench/DH/PH role last year, but with the emergence of Paredes he’s really expendable. Paredes basically has the same skill set, except he’s a switch hitter, has been much better so far this year, is younger, and is signed through 2020. Delmon hasn’t been hitting at all the last month and his power has largely vanished this season. He’s also a liability in the outfield. I won’t forget the game I think two weeks ago where Delmon was in RF and misplayed a ball off the wall, and was pointing at the ball running toward it. Like “ADAM PLEASE HELP ME!”. Between Parmelee/Snider/Lough/Pearce/Reimold he’s the least useful right now.
My point with Paredes is that you can’t really afford to keep two guys on the roster that are defensive liabilities. Especially when one isn’t even hitting. And especially with the Orioles roster flexibility issues this season.
They better get a good return for a power hitting outfielder in his prime
You’re prime isn’t a number, it simply when hes in the best physical shape of his career, and producing the best numbers. Hes well out of his prime, which was his early career.
See a guy like Cole Hamels, whos having his best years currently, but hes 30-31 for those years.
All and all, you’re not going to get much for a platoon DH with an OBP under .300 and a OPS of .628, mixed with a 76 OPS+. You’d be lucky if you got anything helpful other than salary relief.
They will be lucky to get any one on a team’s top 20 prospect list. Young is a terrible defensive outfielder, has no plate discipline, and this year isn’t hitting for any power. He has two home runs for the season and they both came in the same game. He has definitely matured from his early career and seemed to be well liked in the clubhouse, but with the additions of Parmelee and Reimold, and with Snider starting to hit, he’s just the odd man out.
Dan Duquette: “Damn, Jerry. You quit a day too soon. Delmon was your next LF”
Could see a team like the Royals take a look. Rios hasn’t been very good and could use a break. Wouldn’t shock me to see a team like the Brewers take a look either considering they could possibly deal Parra and Gomez by the end of the month, plus Davis is on the DL. Jason Rogers hasn’t been very good either.
Rios has almost 6.5 million votes for the all star game.. So, he must be having an amazing season..
120 and counting are mine.. I decided what the heck and voted for Drew 120 times as well.. The only person that deserves to go to the all star game less than Infante is Drew..
Maybe Marlins to help in the RF and after reds maybe trade J.Bruce to angels twins boston texas or boston delmon can play Lf and Rf the rest of the calendar as a red.
I remember him telling Jose Bautista that he’s not that good, at least he’s not getting DFA’d.
Also, bring back the old commenting system!
That takes serious stones.. Bautista always has that look on his face like he is on his way to eat a kitten.. My opinion of Delmon has gone up a bit..
Yeh, he should get a major league deal just for saying that. Bautista I think does eat kittens….
Phils part of Harang deal?
Braves could turn loose of Bronson Arroyo for Delmon.
He’s basically Justin Maxwell without the power or the defense. Pass.
It would make sense for the New York Mets to bring in Young. Perhaps Alderson can take a break from the Comedy and sitting on his back end and call the Orioles!