Mets sign outfielder Chris Young
FLUSHING, N.Y., November 26, 2013 - 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 right-handed 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 left-handers is .838 (on-base percentage, .363; slugging percentage, .475).