MASN's Roch Kubatko is reporting that the Orioles and Delmon Young have agreed on a one-year deal to return last year's ALDS hero to Baltimore for another season of pinch hitting, lefty-mashing, and adventures in the outfield. Reports all offseason were that Young was seeking a two-year contract, but apparently he didn't find one, and opted to return to the club that revived his career.
Young turned in a tidy 2014 campaign for the Orioles, slashing .302/.337/.442 in part-time duty. Whether he was DHing against a lefty pitcher, pinch hitting or getting pressed into left field duties, Young seemed to do it all, and avoided any of the off-field news that had plagued him in the past. He was good for 0.8 WAR, and oh yeah, there was that one hit that was kind of the greatest moment of an already great season.
Leave it to Dan Duquette to wait until Christmas Eve to make the first semi-meaningful move of a quiet offseason.
The contract will pay Young $2.25 million with the potential for incentives to raise the value up to $3 million.
The return of Young at least partially patches the loss of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis. Even though Young is not an everyday player like those two, he gives the Orioles more options in their platoon matchups and lineup juggling at the DH, LF and RF slots -- particularly with David Lough and Alejandro de Aza both batting left-handed.