Chris Young: The Next Generation

[G-Fafif]

Mets are reportedly to sign the other Chris Young who will now be referred to as the Chris Young.

Or as Nelson, should Casey Stengel want him.

[smg58]

Career-high OPS+ of 108, but that was a while ago. Declining numbers with the bat and glove. He had a quad injury early last year, and you can hope that dragged down his performance the rest of the way. It's low-risk, low-reward. You can do worse for one year, but I'm glad it's not for more than that.

[Frayed Knot]

That would be this one then.
I had kind of lost track of him lately.

[metirish]

When do the Mets sign the good Chris Young?

Has some pop.

[G-Fafif]

Career-high 32 home runs (same as Ike's) in 2007.

[seawolf17]

Assuming/hoping it's a low-end deal, in which case I strongly like. "Only" 30.

[metirish]

G-Fafif wrote: Career-high 32 home runs (same as Ike's) in 2007.

so he has declined in those numbers, but I bet he's a nice guy.

[Edgy MD]

Bad news for Andrew Brown.

[HahnSolo]

G-Fafif wrote: Career-high 32 home runs (same as Ike's) in 2007.

In dog years that's only a year ago.

[Ceetar]

It does suck for Andrew Brown, but hey, there's not exactly a glut of good hitting outfielders on the team right now. Hell, I think our top two _hitting_ guys who have played OF are Duda and Murphy still.

[bmfc1]

I hope that Sandy can get a good prospect for him next August.

[Edgy MD]

Wow.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I bet the "Twitterverse" is "aflame" with complaints about how this is all that the Mets are gonna do.

[Benjamin Grimm]

$7.25 million dollars for a one-year deal.

I hope they have more than $30 million to spend, because if not, they've just spend almost a quarter of their budget on this guy.

[MFS62]

Its a start.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

Chris Young, Mets reach deal Updated: November 22, 2013, 10:26 AM ET By Jerry Crasnick and Adam Rubin | ESPN.com Free-agent outfielder Chris Young has reached agreement on a one-year contract with the New York Mets, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN.com on Friday. The deal is for $7.25 million, a source said. The agreement is pending results of a physical next week. Young, 30, is a career .235 hitter with 144 home runs in parts of eight seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Oakland Athletics. He made the National League All-Star team with Arizona in 2010. This past season, Young slumped to .200 with 12 home runs in 107 games with the A's. The Mets have not commented on which outfield position Young, who hits from the right side, would play. He has appeared in 905 games in center field, 26 games in right and 24 games in left during his major league career. The hope is that Juan Lagares hits enough to play center field, pushing Young to a corner spot. But Young would be capable of stepping into center field if needed. Currently, the Mets' outfield alignment would be Eric Young Jr. in left field, Lagares in center and Chris Young in right. The Mets, however, still hope to add another outfield bat via free agency or trade, which could push Young Jr. to a fourth outfielder role or second base if Daniel Murphy were traded. The Mets have been linked to free agent Nelson Cruz, but his salary demands exceed the Mets' appetite, according to a source. The Mets also have had dialogue with the Milwaukee Brewers about a trade that could send Ike Davis for an outfielder, although a Mets official recently insisted there has been zero dialogue about Ryan Braun. The Boston Red Sox were among the other teams who had expressed an early interest in Young.

[metirish]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: $7.25 million dollars for a one-year deal. I hope they have more than $30 million to spend, because if not, they've just spend almost a quarter of their budget on this guy.

wow, that does seem a lot.....better not slump at that price.

[Ceetar]

metirish wrote: career low BABIP last year. Very good on defense. This one's growing on me.

Lefty Specialist Nov 22 2013 09:22 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Can we just skip 2014 and go straight to 2015?

Edgy MD Nov 22 2013 09:48 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Biggest salary handed out to an incoming free agent in the Alderson era. Frank Francisco's contract remains the largest total package. In fact, Frank Francisco remains a total package.

Ceetar Nov 22 2013 09:53 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Edgy MD wrote: Biggest salary handed out to an incoming free agent in the Alderson era. Frank Francisco's contract remains the largest total package. In fact, Frank Francisco remains a total package. Marcum's was probably..third? of course, Hairston and Byrd got very little and performed like you'd have wanted those two guys to have based on payment. Hopefully Young and whoever else they sign buck the trend.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 22 2013 10:03 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

I have no idea if this guy is any good. Is he any good?

Edgy MD Nov 22 2013 10:26 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Pretty solid .750 OPS/100 OPS+ guy, coming off a regrettable year. If he returns to his level, he's probably good, as half his value seems to be in his defense. But one will not like the trend lines.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 22 2013 10:54 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

More likable as a CF than a LF/RF but what then of Lagares? The 1 year thing is interesting in that you could easily collect if the season doesn't go right. I guess I'm OK with this.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 22 2013 11:14 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

It's like getting the 1972 version of Tommie Agee. [fimg=333:2lrgkbdp]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3687/10997461183_78df5889ed_o.jpg[/fimg:2lrgkbdp]

Ceetar Nov 22 2013 11:15 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: More likable as a CF than a LF/RF but what then of Lagares? The 1 year thing is interesting in that you could easily collect if the season doesn't go right. I guess I'm OK with this. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/mets-land-bargain-in-chris-young/ he suggests the diminishing returns of playing two CF is overstated. Makes sense, Have Lagares (who hasn't proved he can hit enough) stand over towards one side a little more. Allows you to sign a more bat, less glove type corner too without losing too much defensively.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 22 2013 11:16 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

My concern is that it takes too big a bite out of the budget. (If indeed, the budget is $30 million; that may not be accurate at all.) If 25 per cent of what they have to spend is going to players of this caliber, then we're going to have a fairly modest offseason. Can the Mets get another outfielder, a shortstop, and a starting pitcher for $22.75 million? I don't know; maybe they can. But I have my doubts.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 22 2013 11:17 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

batmagadanleadoff wrote: It's like getting the 1972 version of Tommie Agee. [fimg=333]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3687/10997461183_78df5889ed_o.jpg[/fimg] It's like getting [crossout]the 1972 version of[/crossout]Tommie Agee coming off his 1972 season. [fimg=333]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3687/10997461183_78df5889ed_o.jpg[/fimg]

batmagadanleadoff Nov 22 2013 11:20 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Benjamin Grimm wrote: My concern is that it takes too big a bite out of the budget. (If indeed, the budget is $30 million; that may not be accurate at all.) If 25 per cent of what they have to spend is going to players of this caliber, then we're going to have a fairly modest offseason. Can the Mets get another outfielder, a shortstop, and a starting pitcher for $22.75 million? I don't know; maybe they can. But I have my doubts. Me too. Yesterday, I was working myself up to the idea that having $30M to spend on the team isn't as bad as it sounds. I figured that $7.5M, should yield a decent player, and that the Mets ought to get four decent players on that budget. It's not working out that way, so far.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 22 2013 12:19 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

More likable as a CF than a LF/RF but what then of Lagares? The 1 year thing is interesting in that you could easily collect if the season doesn't go right. I guess I'm OK with this. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/mets-land-bargain-in-chris-young/ he suggests the diminishing returns of playing two CF is overstated. Makes sense, Have Lagares (who hasn't proved he can hit enough) stand over towards one side a little more. Allows you to sign a more bat, less glove type corner too without losing too much defensively. That's a pretty glowing review of our move there. Soundbites: this will likely go down as one of the best free agent signings of the off-season. League average hitters who can also play the outfield pretty well and add some baserunning value are nifty pieces. Last year, Cody Ross � same basic overall skillset, though with less defensive chops � got $26 million over three years. Ryan Ludwick, another average hitting RHB without as much defensive value, got $15 million over two years. Even Jonny Gomes, strictly a lefty masher who should probably DH, got $10 million over two years. For the Mets to land Young with only a single year commitment, even though he projects to be better than guys who got more money for more years, makes this a pretty great little deal. If Young has a big bounce back season, they can either flip him for prospects at the deadline or potentially extend a qualifying offer next winter, and maybe reap a draft pick as reward for their faith in his skills. Young isn�t a sexy addition, but this is the kind of solid low cost move that smart teams are making these days. If you just focus on what Young can�t do, you�ll ignore the fact that what he can do has value, and $7 million for what he brings to the table is one of the off-season�s better bargains.

Edgy MD Nov 22 2013 12:32 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

If I was to think grandly, I'd think the plan was to go get Choo now and use the two of them, if not quite as a platoon, to provide some coverage for each. And heck, the platoon is a good fallback position if some of the Mets younger outfielders come quickly, or one or both of them absolutely tanks against same-side pitching.

Lefty Specialist Nov 22 2013 12:43 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Dunno, I have a hard time getting excited about a career .235 hitter who hit .200 last year with a .280 obp, no matter how fast he is.

Gwreck Nov 22 2013 12:55 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Benjamin Grimm wrote: $7.25 million dollars for a one-year deal. This guy had a WAR of 0 last year. (I do realize he did have 12.5 WAR for 2010-12).

batmagadanleadoff Nov 22 2013 01:12 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

It seems that the Mets plan for 2014 is to hope to catch four Marlon Byrd's in a bottle. What'll Howie Megdal write about this deal?

Vic Sage Nov 22 2013 01:55 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

I'm not averse to the signing. I've had my eye on this guy for years, because of his tools. And he's still only 30. But so far in his career, he's been mostly tools and not so much production. 2 decent years out of 8 is not something that makes one hopeful. But the upside on Young (without over-projecting) is a line of .250 /20hr /20sb /80r /80rbi, with a CF-caliber glove. Which, you know, doesn't suck. Of course, his downside is suckitude followed by the DL. I think he could end up playing well enough to be worth something to somebody by the end of the season, but you generally don't want to spend this much when you're just taking a flyer on a guy. Still, he's better than what we have, with the talent to be MUCH better.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 22 2013 04:44 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

At some point, the staying-healthy-thing becomes a characteristic, not bad luck, right? As for the two CFs thing... I like it just fine. Can we play the two of them deep and keep Eric Young in, like, short center?

Ashie62 Nov 22 2013 04:48 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

The trend for Chris Young is rough..Oft injured and 4th of at best. C-

Frayed Knot Nov 22 2013 06:00 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

So this gives the Mets (though not always at the same time): - two Chris Youngs - two Bob Millers - two Bobby Jones - two Mike Marshalls - two Pedro Martinez and probably a few others that I'm missing.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 22 2013 06:35 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Bob Johnson

Edgy MD Nov 22 2013 07:20 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Sandy Alomars.

Centerfield Nov 22 2013 07:36 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

They had two Ike Davises. The good looking young player who hit for power and played great defense. And the squinty suckass guy.

Frayed Knot Nov 23 2013 08:48 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Shawn/Sean Green x 2

Edgy MD Nov 23 2013 09:12 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

batmagadanleadoff wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: It's like getting the 1972 version of Tommie Agee. [fimg=333]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3687/10997461183_78df5889ed_o.jpg[/fimg] It's like getting [crossout]the 1972 version of[/crossout]Tommie Agee coming off his 1972 season. [fimg=333]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3687/10997461183_78df5889ed_o.jpg[/fimg] Perhaps indeed, but a lot of those other guys did better after 29. Agee was starting to put on the weight and I wouldn't be surprised to read he was in the onset stages of diabetes.

Ashie62 Nov 23 2013 09:26 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

A starting OF of Young Jr. Lagares and Chris Young does little for me.. Now if they could get the Cruz fellow.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 27 2013 07:23 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

This is now official, as of yesterday. I know that batmagadanleadoff is delighted about this, but the rest of us, it seems, are rather lukewarm about it. Hopefully there are better announcements to come. Mets press release wrote: METS SIGN OUTFIELDER CHRIS YOUNG The New York Mets today announced the club signed outfielder Chris Young to a one-year contract. Young, 30, appeared in 107 games with Oakland last season, hitting .200 (67-335) with 12 home runs and 40 RBI. The 6-2, 190-pound native of Houston, TX, who throws and bats right-handed, hit double-digit home runs for the seventh consecutive season in 2013. He finished with 33 extra-base hits, the second most in the American League among players with 335 at-bats or less. Originally selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 16th round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft out of Bellaire High School in Houston, Young was traded to Arizona in 2005 as part of a deal for righthanded pitcher Javier Vazquez. He made his major league debut in 2006 with the Diamondbacks, and the next season, he hit 32 home runs and stole 27 bases to finish fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting. Young became the first rookie in major league history to hit 30 home runs and steal 25 bases in a season. He was an All-Star in 2010. The A's acquired him in 2012 for infielder Cliff Pennington and minor league infielder Yordy Cabrera. Young owns a .235 (825-3,508) lifetime average with 144 home runs and 122 stolen bases. He is one of 17 active major leaguers, along with teammate David Wright, to have at least 140 home runs and 120 stolen bases. His lifetime OPS against lefthanders is .838 (on-base percentage, .363; slugging percentage, .475).

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 27 2013 07:37 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

I kinda feel about Chris Young the way I did about Xavier Nady and also, Ryan Church. You know, a newly arriving, young-ish vet, corner outfielder who might be good. Or, might not. It's impossible to tell.

Ceetar Nov 27 2013 07:51 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I kinda feel about Chris Young the way I did about Xavier Nady and also, Ryan Church. You know, a newly arriving, young-ish vet, corner outfielder who might be good. Or, might not. It's impossible to tell. Chris Young is way better than those guys (although I still believe Church would've turned in some good years sans-concussion)

MFS62 Nov 27 2013 07:52 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

There's been some form of announcement of this deal every day since November 22nd. Memo to Sandy: Announcing the signing of the same player for five straight days is not the same as signing five different players. Later

Benjamin Grimm Nov 27 2013 07:53 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

I have no problem with taking a flyer on a guy like him. My issue is that it's using up $7.25 million of the offseason budget. It remains to be seen how much that will handcuff the Mets from any future moves, but right now that's where my concern is.

Ceetar Nov 27 2013 08:11 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I have no problem with taking a flyer on a guy like him. My issue is that it's using up $7.25 million of the offseason budget. It remains to be seen how much that will handcuff the Mets from any future moves, but right now that's where my concern is. I mean, no one's aware of the budget more than the guys that signed him. They have a plan and he fit into it. It's not like they're walking down aisles "Ooh, Chris Young, put him in the cart!" and then get to the Granderson aisle and realize they can't afford it. The interesting part is they insinuated to him that he might play CF. If anything, that indicates that we could see TWO more outfielders, not just pencil in Lagares as 2014's Rey Ordonez.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 27 2013 08:19 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Ceetar wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I kinda feel about Chris Young the way I did about Xavier Nady and also, Ryan Church. You know, a newly arriving, young-ish vet, corner outfielder who might be good. Or, might not. It's impossible to tell. Chris Young is way better than those guys (although I still believe Church would've turned in some good years sans-concussion) Don't get me wrong -- just comparing my feeeeeelings on Young to those on Nady and Church.

Ceetar Nov 27 2013 08:21 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I kinda feel about Chris Young the way I did about Xavier Nady and also, Ryan Church. You know, a newly arriving, young-ish vet, corner outfielder who might be good. Or, might not. It's impossible to tell. Chris Young is way better than those guys (although I still believe Church would've turned in some good years sans-concussion) Don't get me wrong -- just comparing my feeeeeelings on Young to those on Nady and Church. I don't even remember acquiring Nady myself. Just all of a sudden he was playing and it was like "Hey, he's doing pretty good ain't he? oh wait now he's a Pirate"

Edgy MD Nov 27 2013 08:23 AM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

I kinda wonder if giving up Cameron for Nady and half of Milledge for Church was just as big (and unpopular) of a commitment as giving up a chunk o' budget for Young. Both those trades turned out OK for the Mets though, even if both their Metly careers were cut short.

Ashie62 Nov 27 2013 07:05 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I have no problem with taking a flyer on a guy like him. My issue is that it's using up $7.25 million of the offseason budget. It remains to be seen how much that will handcuff the Mets from any future moves, but right now that's where my concern is. It's alot of money for a guy who will accept a minor league invite n two years...2007 &10 he was terrific..2012 & 13 he fell off the map. Putting him in as a starting OF does not feel like an upgrade. prove me Chris..

Edgy MD Nov 27 2013 07:11 PM Re: Chris Young: The Next Generation

Well, he ain't being paid for what he'll be in two yearsies. The Mets went into the offseason aiming at two outfielders. The idea that we got the hopefully lesser one first shouldn't be color the view of it.

[Lefty Specialist]

Can we just skip 2014 and go straight to 2015?

[Edgy MD]

Biggest salary handed out to an incoming free agent in the Alderson era.

Frank Francisco's contract remains the largest total package. In fact, Frank Francisco remains a total package.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Biggest salary handed out to an incoming free agent in the Alderson era. Frank Francisco's contract remains the largest total package. In fact, Frank Francisco remains a total package.

Marcum's was probably..third? of course, Hairston and Byrd got very little and performed like you'd have wanted those two guys to have based on payment. Hopefully Young and whoever else they sign buck the trend.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I have no idea if this guy is any good.

Is he any good?

[Edgy MD]

Pretty solid .750 OPS/100 OPS+ guy, coming off a regrettable year. If he returns to his level, he's probably good, as half his value seems to be in his defense.

But one will not like the trend lines.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

More likable as a CF than a LF/RF but what then of Lagares?

The 1 year thing is interesting in that you could easily collect if the season doesn't go right.

I guess I'm OK with this.

[batmagadanleadoff]

It's like getting the 1972 version of Tommie Agee.

[fimg=333:2lrgkbdp]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3687/10997461183_78df5889ed_o.jpg[/fimg:2lrgkbdp]

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: More likable as a CF than a LF/RF but what then of Lagares? The 1 year thing is interesting in that you could easily collect if the season doesn't go right. I guess I'm OK with this.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/mets-land-bargain-in-chris-young/

he suggests the diminishing returns of playing two CF is overstated. Makes sense, Have Lagares (who hasn't proved he can hit enough) stand over towards one side a little more. Allows you to sign a more bat, less glove type corner too without losing too much defensively.

[Benjamin Grimm]

My concern is that it takes too big a bite out of the budget. (If indeed, the budget is $30 million; that may not be accurate at all.)

If 25 per cent of what they have to spend is going to players of this caliber, then we're going to have a fairly modest offseason. Can the Mets get another outfielder, a shortstop, and a starting pitcher for $22.75 million? I don't know; maybe they can. But I have my doubts.

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: It's like getting the 1972 version of Tommie Agee. [fimg=333]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3687/10997461183_78df5889ed_o.jpg[/fimg]

It's like getting [crossout]the 1972 version of[/crossout]Tommie Agee coming off his 1972 season.

[fimg=333]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3687/10997461183_78df5889ed_o.jpg[/fimg]

[batmagadanleadoff]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: My concern is that it takes too big a bite out of the budget. (If indeed, the budget is $30 million; that may not be accurate at all.) If 25 per cent of what they have to spend is going to players of this caliber, then we're going to have a fairly modest offseason. Can the Mets get another outfielder, a shortstop, and a starting pitcher for $22.75 million? I don't know; maybe they can. But I have my doubts.

Me too. Yesterday, I was working myself up to the idea that having $30M to spend on the team isn't as bad as it sounds. I figured that $7.5M, should yield a decent player, and that the Mets ought to get four decent players on that budget. It's not working out that way, so far.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

More likable as a CF than a LF/RF but what then of Lagares? The 1 year thing is interesting in that you could easily collect if the season doesn't go right. I guess I'm OK with this. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/mets-land-bargain-in-chris-young/ he suggests the diminishing returns of playing two CF is overstated. Makes sense, Have Lagares (who hasn't proved he can hit enough) stand over towards one side a little more. Allows you to sign a more bat, less glove type corner too without losing too much defensively.

That's a pretty glowing review of our move there.

Soundbites:

this will likely go down as one of the best free agent signings of the off-season.

League average hitters who can also play the outfield pretty well and add some baserunning value are nifty pieces.

Last year, Cody Ross � same basic overall skillset, though with less defensive chops � got $26 million over three years. Ryan Ludwick, another average hitting RHB without as much defensive value, got $15 million over two years. Even Jonny Gomes, strictly a lefty masher who should probably DH, got $10 million over two years. For the Mets to land Young with only a single year commitment, even though he projects to be better than guys who got more money for more years, makes this a pretty great little deal. If Young has a big bounce back season, they can either flip him for prospects at the deadline or potentially extend a qualifying offer next winter, and maybe reap a draft pick as reward for their faith in his skills. Young isn�t a sexy addition, but this is the kind of solid low cost move that smart teams are making these days. If you just focus on what Young can�t do, you�ll ignore the fact that what he can do has value, and $7 million for what he brings to the table is one of the off-season�s better bargains.