Sep 22, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Dioner Navarro (30) tags out New York Yankees pinch hitter Chris Young (24) in the ninth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Young: 140 G, 318 AB, .252/.320/.453, 14 HR, 42 RBI, UZR/150 -2.5, WAR 1.2
Young is a ten-year veteran who is now slipping into a role of part time outfielder. The right-hander (both ways) will be 32-years-old as the 2016 season begins and looking for further major league employment. Young is an excellent power bat with 169 career home runs, but the downside is the usual with a career average of .235 and 1,050 strikeouts and counting. For 2015 the K% was 20.5.
If one is looking for some upside with Young look no further than Fenway Park where Young has a career .344 average. The downside is Young is – at best – an average defender with a career UZR/150 of 1.8. What you will get from Young is a serious threat of clout in the texture of make a mistake and it is prone to disappear into the clutches of fans in the outfield stands.
Young is coming off a one-year deal with New York for 2.5 million and that just may be a figure that will represent a negotiating point for another one-year deal. The question is just what are you willing to give up on the defensive end to add onto the offensive end? As a late inning defensive player Young simply does not accommodate a team’s needs.