The Orioles have made their biggest offseason move to date by agreeing to a one-year deal to bring back outfielder and pinch-hitter extraordinaire Delmon Young for the 2015 season.
The deal is reportedly worth $2.25 million guaranteed with incentives that could push the total value to $3 million. The 29-year-old reportedly had been seeking a two-year deal, but Young elected to remain with the Orioles, who took a chance on him after a tryout and minor-league deal last winter.
In 255 plate appearances, Young batted .302 with seven home runs, 30 runs batted in, 11 doubles, and a .779 on-base plus slugging percentage as part of the 2014 American League East champions. He thrived as a pinch-hitter in 2014, going 10-for-20 in the regular season and stroking the go-ahead three-run double in the eighth inning of Game 2 of the AL Division Series.
With Nelson Cruz departing via free agency earlier in the offseason, Young could see an increased role as the primary designated hitter and occasional outfielder in 2015. He has advanced to the playoffs in six straight seasons with four different clubs and went 2-for-9 with four RBIs against Detroit and Kansas City in the 2014 postseason.
In nine major league seasons, Young sports a .283 career average and a .742 OPS.
Baltimore will need to make room on the 40-man roster for Young after claiming catcher Ryan Lavarnway off waivers Tuesday and releasing outfielder Quintin Berry.
