After losing two outfielders to free agency earlier this month, the Orioles made a move Wednesday to bring back one of their key role players from last season.
The club reached an agreement with designated hitter-outfielder Delmon Young on a one-year, $2.25 million deal, pending a physical, according to multiple sources. With incentives, the deal could be worth as much as $3 million. Young's physical is expected to take place after the New Year's holiday.
Young, 29, hit .302 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs in 83 games last season. He earned an Opening Day roster spot after signing a minor league deal with the Orioles in January.
The Orioles' top priority this offseason has been replenishing an outfield depleted by the losses of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis to free agency. Cruz signed a four-year deal with the Seattle Mariners, while Markakis joined the Atlanta Braves on a four-year deal.
The Orioles also wanted to retain Young, who proved to be a good fit inside the clubhouse and a solid option off the bench, but he initially was seeking a two-year deal.
Young, who was 12-for-30 (.400) with one home run and five RBIs as a pinch-hitter in 2014, ultimately settled for a one-year deal in order to remain with the Orioles.
The No. 1 overall pick in 2003 by Tampa Bay and once considered baseball's top prospect, Young earned one of the final roster spots this spring as a right-handed hitter who could play outfield and serve as the designated hitter.
Young's role increased over the course of the season, and he had a pinch-hit, go-ahead, three-run double in Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers. He started Game 3 in left field and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, but the Orioles completed the sweep with a 2-1 win.
Young, who has played in the playoffs in six straight seasons with four different teams, also appeared in two games in the AL Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals.
Young had a pinch-hit single in the 10th inning of Game 1 to drive in a run, and he was 0-for-4 as the designated hitter in Game 4 as the Royals clinched with a 2-1 victory.
Primarily used as a designated hitter or pinch-hitter, Young also made 18 starts in the outfield (17 in left field, one in right field).
A career .302 hitter against left-handed pitching, Young actually fared better against right-handers in 2014. He batted .312 against right-handers, compared to .282 against left-handed pitchers.
Finally feeling healthy for the first time since microfracture surgery on his ankle after the 2012 season, Young had his best batting average since his rookie season in 2006, when he hit .317 in 30 games for Tampa Bay.