Delmon Young Signing Is a Brilliant Move For the Phillies and GM Ruben Amaro Jr.

Delmon-Young
Courtesy riceweevil.com

Ruben Amaro has done it once again.  In a market where Josh Hamilton gets $125 million and Cody Ross gets $24 million, he had to be patient and wait for the big catch.  Finally on January 22 the Phillies landed their righthanded power bat.  Well-done, Ruben.

The hole created by Hunter Pence had yet to be filled by the Phillies.  If you look at Young's 2012 numbers compared to 2012 Pence, Young is the superior hitter.   Hunter Pence hit .253 and Young hit .267.  That is a .014 increase over Pence.  And we know that Pence is a valuable hitter because Jonathan Singleton, Jared Cosart and Domingo Santana got traded for him.  This is like getting a better Pence for less prospects, or even no prospects.  Further consider that Young's defense is an improvement, this is a great deal.

In the Phillies lineup, Young will be the perfect protection for Ryan Howard.  The Detroit Tigers won the American League last year when Young hit after Prince Fielder, so this is definitely a ticket to the postseason.  Ryan Howard should see many better pitches to hit when the pitcher knows that Young is behind him and ready to cause trouble with the bat.

This move is similar to the ones that Amaro made in the past.  Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth were great additions to the Phillies who hardly cost anything.  What they gave the team was a lot for the money.  For only $750,000, Young will have incentive to prove his talent can be brought onto the field too. 

The best thing about this deal is that Philadelphia is the home of second chances.  We all got to see Mike Vick rise to greatness again once he got another chance.  Even though Young assaulted a guy and made anti-Jewish remarks and threw a bat at an umpire, the City of Brotherly Love is the best place for forgiveness.  Like Vick, Young can rise to the top once again knowing that the City is willing to forgive him.

Delmon Young is a winner and he will do wonders for the Phillies lineup.  Right handed power bats are hard to find and Ruben Amaro pulled it off.  The just could be the missing piece that causes a parade down Broad Street.

You can follow Jorge Suarez on Twitter at @hiphop_JORGE

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