Chris Young provided great value as a platoon outfielder for the New York Yankees in 2015, and the free agent is already generating interest across the league.
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Report: Red Sox, Others Interested in Young
Tuesday, Nov. 10
Young resurrected his career this past season in the Bronx after poor stints with the New York Mets and the Oakland Athletics, and teams in need of outfield help have taken notice.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Boston Red Sox and additional unnamed teams plan to pursue the 32-year-old veteran.
Per A.J. Herrmann of YesNetwork.com, Young became a free agent Nov. 6 when the Yankees decided against extending him a qualifying offer.
Young was a regular starter for the Yanks against left-handed pitching, and he finished the 2015 campaign with a .252 batting average, 14 home runs and 42 RBI. The majority of that damage was done against lefties, as he hit .327 with seven long balls and 24 RBI.
While Young is no longer the all-around stud he was when he clubbed 27 home runs, stole 28 bases and made the All-Star team for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010, he was quite pleased with what he brought to the table as a Yankee in 2015.
According to Dan Martin and George A. King III of the New York Post, Young said, “I didn’t know what was going to happen this year or what opportunities I would have. I think I did a good job of taking advantage of the chances I got. I’ve made some good adjustments since coming here toward the end of last year and did the things I need to do to become productive.”
Young created a great deal of value for himself since he is a versatile player who has proved capable of being a quality, middle-of-the-order bat against lefties.
He also has some speed and can play all three outfield positions, which should make him quite the under-the-radar commodity in a free-agent class that has no shortage of star power.
Signing Young isn’t likely to be heralded across the league, but based on what he is able to provide for what should be a reasonable price, he has a chance to be among the offseason’s biggest steals.
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