NEW YORK, N.Y. - Delmon Young has some incentive to lay off the desserts: He can earn $600,000 based on his weight this season.
Young's $750,000, one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies allows him to earn an additional $2.75 million in bonuses.
The deal for the AL championship series MVP, announced Tuesday, calls for him to get on a scale on six occasions to be chosen by the team. He'll receive $100,000 each time he makes weight, according to details obtained by The Associated Press. The first three times, he must be 230 pounds or less, and the second three, 235 pounds or less.
Young was Detroit's designated hitter in 118 games during the regular season and played the outfield in just 31.
"When I knew I wasn't going to see the field, you can eat just a little bit extra," he told reporters Tuesday. "I've been on a strict diet. You can get carried away on clubhouse food and late-night room service. Some ice cream and good-luck cakes. But when you go back to the outfield, you have got to eat lighter."
Young also would earn a $250,000 bonus for being on the active roster for one day, and $100,000 each for 40, 80, 120 and 160 days.
He can earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses: $150,000 each for 250, 300, 350 and 400 plate appearances; $200,000 apiece for 450 and 500; and $250,000 each for 550 and 600.
Young lost 30 pounds between the 2009 and 2010 seasons, when he was with the Minnesota Twins. He went up to 239 before dropping to 207.
The 27-year-old outfielder hit .267 with 27 doubles, 18 homers and 74 RBIs for Detroit last season. He hit .313 with three homers and a team-high nine RBIs during 13 post-season games.
Young had a $6.75 million salary last year, when he was suspended without pay for seven days by Major League Baseball after an incident outside a New York City hotel last spring. Young pleaded guilty to aggravated harassment for shouting an anti-Semitic slur and tackling a man to the ground.
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AP Sports Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.
