Delmon Young as a Francoeur out-clause

by gondeee on Jun 2, 2009 1:05 PM EDT in Braves Trade News

K-Ros has an interesting tidbit in his latest column about the Braves interest in Delmon Young:

The Twins' Delmon Young surfaced on the Braves' radar, but only briefly. One rival GM says Young would be a poor acquisition for several reasons. One, he offers little offensively. Two, he is out of minor-league options. Three, he might earn $2.5 million to $3 million in arbitration, and the GM says a team could find "20 hitters on the free-agent market who would be twice as productive." ...

I agree with all of that, but that statement also got me thinking... Jeff Francoeur and Delmon Young are eerily similar in terms of their hype verses their actual play on the field, and Francoeur also "offers little offensively." If Francoeur continues on his current trajectory this year and does not improve (and so does Young), then the Twins and the Braves might be open to a one-for-one swap of Francoeur for Young. This would allow each team to get the other teams problem, which they would likely view as getting a player who "just needs a change of scenery."

Say then, that Young doesn't work out as a Brave, he would be much easier to release in the off-season than Jeff Francoeur. So the Braves would get a guy who has just as much potential as Frenchy, give him a chance to get things going for half a season (and in a different league, which might help), and if he doesn't work out then the team can release him without feeling bad or having their fans get too upset. This would be a face-saving trade for the Braves, and one they could excuse as good for both players.

For his career, Young has hit .353 with an .888 OPS against the National League, as opposed to a .288 BA and .726 OPS career mark, so on the surface he seems to enjoy the NL more than the AL. Don't think for a minute that this would be a definite fix for our outfield woes, it's not. But at the very least we wouldn't have to keep hoping Francoeur would turn it around. We could hope, if only for half a season, that Young could turn it around.

This potential scenario makes more sense when you consider the rumors that a lot of teams are looking for outfield power bats and hitters, with very few available. If we were to make this move soon, we would still have time to acquire someone else were Young not to work out before the trade deadline.

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He’s also got an attitude problem like Francoeur. This would be a lateral move that saves us a million in salary.

"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
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by bigjoe on Jun 2, 2009 1:08 PM EDT reply actions

I wonder

what the rest of the Braves are thinking about him these days. The only difference I’d suggest between each of their attitude problems is that Young’s is less of a secret, and he has had issues with teammates and coaches in the past, while Frenchy is considered “a great guy.” I wonder if, behind closed doors, his teammates are getting tired of the whining.

by hoboken_wood on Jun 2, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Reminds me of another guy who wore #7 in Atlanta.

by gondeee on Jun 2, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Dwight Smith?

by hoboken_wood on Jun 2, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I was kidding

but do you mean Vick? If so, I don’t get the comparison.

by hoboken_wood on Jun 2, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Frenchy at least has been spotless off the field. Young not so much.

by ghost of tom thobe on Jun 2, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

We need to dump Frenchy and have someone take up his entire salary without taking any salary back. That way we have some room to acquire someone who is actually productive.

http://www.whensidslid.com

by garriscp on Jun 2, 2009 1:11 PM EDT reply actions

I’m sure teams are lining up to do that. Is this the Young that threw a bat at the ump?

If Dunn walks 30 fewer times, he'll drive in 15 more runs. This is thanks to the scientifically proven formula: RBI = (this is nonsense) (I made it all up).

Here's a stat: Wins as manager: Dusty Baker, 1,162; Bill James, 0.

by TradeAndruw on Jun 2, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

yup…had to look it up since I couldn’t remember if he threw a bat or kicked over the catcher on his way to charging the mound (still my all time favorite charge the mound, with gerald williams charging pedro a close 2nd).

by ghost of tom thobe on Jun 2, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I meant to add that Young’s wikipedia page is hilariously biased. It reads about an uber-prospect who is Albert Belle with a cannon arm.

by ghost of tom thobe on Jun 2, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

is there a youtube video of this?

by drumzalicious on Jun 2, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCX_XlRYYDo

"These two teams are constantly going at each other verbally. You know, win with class, lose with class. Just keep your mouth shut and go play your game."--Chipper Jones, commenting on the Muts/Phaillies verbal girl fight.

by King Size on Jun 2, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I love Corky’s reaction. He just kind of walks off. I remember talking to him about it a few weeks later and he said it was the craziest thing he’d ever seen on a baseball field.

"At least he didn’t nail the bitchy fat girl from Hell's Kitchen."
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by cbwilk on Jun 2, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

very very interesting

I don’t think I would be opposed to this.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Jun 2, 2009 1:12 PM EDT reply actions

Something interesting: Delmon Young’s #1 PECOTA comparable player is Jeff Francoeur.

http://www.whensidslid.com

by garriscp on Jun 2, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

+10

by gondeee on Jun 2, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

maybe they are each playing for the wrong league

Proof that when posting while high or intoxicated can lead to some really funny posts

by bravesrbaseball on Jun 2, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

Why not

If Delmon is anything like Dmitri, one good chip on his shoulder, and feeling like he’s got the world to prove, will only benefit the team he’s playing for.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jun 2, 2009 1:27 PM EDT reply actions

I’ve always been against picking up Young, but at this point, anything that gets rid of #7 would be appreciated. And gondee makes a great point in that if Young stinks and we cut him, it wouldn’t be as bad in a PR sense. Except to the dummies than still think Mr. OPS is good, but what do they know anyway.

"At least he didn’t nail the bitchy fat girl from Hell's Kitchen."
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Jun 2, 2009 1:47 PM EDT reply actions

I just voted in the AJC poll of which Braves should be in the Allstar game, and was pleasantly surprised that 94% voted no on Francouer. The only people who scored worse were Schafer and Anderson at 96% No. On the other hand, Lowe and Jurrjens were 95% Yes and both counts.

"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09

by 10-4 on Jun 2, 2009 1:48 PM EDT reply actions

I like it. If Young does anything, he is still young and we can trade him off. If he sucks he goes the way of Thorman and no harm no foul.

hindsight is 20-13 just like Ted William actual vision- ken tremendous

by heapofoatmeal on Jun 2, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

I love this idea. Please do it!

by Zeus12888 on Jun 2, 2009 2:54 PM EDT reply actions

Pull it off FW

Can’t hurt and would have higher upside than just about any other move we could pull off with Francoeur.

by was385 on Jun 2, 2009 3:45 PM EDT reply actions

Honestly, I’d rather have Frenchy*. Both are crappy hitters, but Delmon’s defense is just horrendous while Frenchy’s is merely below average.

Actually, I’d rather send Frenchy down and give BJones a chance.

by Lennox on Jun 2, 2009 4:22 PM EDT reply actions

Francouer’s defense was the worst by right fielders last year according to Dewan/s +/- system.

We need neither Francouer nor Young in our lineup. NO THANK YOU.

by Alvaro Andres Pizza Varela on Jun 2, 2009 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

you know I hate delmon young, but he is still two years younger than frenchy. I dunno. I don’t see the point, but maybe that is the point. What would it hurt? Not much.

by yondaime4 on Jun 3, 2009 12:33 AM EDT reply actions

I’m a Twins and Braves fan. From the Twins perspective, I would do the deal. The offense can’t get worse than Young has been so far, and Frenchy’s defense HAS to be better than Young’s.

I do think both players suffer a bit from their situation(still their fault, however) and would benefit from a change of scenery.

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by dbimberg on Jun 3, 2009 12:35 PM EDT reply actions