7:08pm: Morgan can earn over $1MM if he makes the roster and reaches the incentives in his contract, Crasnick reports on Twitter.
6:34pm: Nyjer Morgan has signed a minor league deal with the Indians, reports Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The deal includes a Spring Training invitation, Crasnick notes. Morgan recently became a client of Team One and Millenium Sports.
Morgan played in Japan last year after seeing action in parts of six seasons, putting up a .294/.361/.434 line in 424 plate appearances for the Yokohama Bay Stars. In 2012 with the Brewers, Morgan mustered only a .239/.302/.308 triple-slash in 322 plate appearances. While his last look at the bigs was subpar, however, Morgan did put up OPS marks of over .750 in both 2009 and 2011.
At 33, Morgan's legs may not be quite what they once were. He notched 42 and 34 stolen bases over the 2009 and 2010 seasons, respectively, but barely mustered double-digits in his last two seasons of big league action and had just three for the Bay Stars last year. It remains to be seen, also, whether he can continue to add value as a plus defensive center fielder.
It could be a tall order for Morgan to break camp with the Indians. Michael Bourn is entrenched in center, and the club already has left-handed bats in Michael Brantley and David Murphy at the corners.
Francona and his positive vibrations to soothe the troubled waters and personality?
ok
Hopefully he can tickle some more balls down the line
Cleveland had a good thing going.
What thing is that?
You know, that thing. It’s good.
Chemistry.
Francoeur: get wrecked. lol.
This is to balance out all those ‘feel good’ players who are such nice guys. We needed an asshole to balance the clubhouse chi.
Tony plush is back!
Whatever the odds are on him not making the team, that’s the bet I would make.
Willie Mays Hayes >
This guy has the same stat line as Michael Bourn
Nyjer:
.280
.341
.364
Bourn
.271
.335
.364
One is an inept tool prone to temper tantrums, the other is not.
Bourn can play defense though
Okay for center field Fangraphs pegged Nyjer morgan with a UZR/150 of 12.9 in 3000 innings, and Bourn with a UZR/150 of 9.4 if 7400 innings in center field. So Nyjer is slightly better
He is better than bourn I think he will platoon with bourn
And most fans breath a sigh of relief. My condolences Cleveland fans.
He’ll be just like Willie “Mays” Hayes Part II for the Indians. Awesome! Seriously though, I enjoyed him with the Pirates and I’m glad he’s back in the states. What teams were also interested in him?
Their were like 6-7 teams
Here’s to hoping it doesn’t work out. The team and its fans doesn’t have time for that.
Guess he was too similar to Japanese players in his physicality to play there another year. They like the McGehee/Jones/Wily Mo types.
On a team with already 3 lefties OF on the team who are all better than him, why would he pick Cleveland to continue playing? There is little chance of making the roster anyway…
From Tony Plush… to Michael Bourn Lite? I don’t get why Morgan would go to Cleveland to try and back up someone who has the same tool set.
you make it sound like he had plenty of options.
From reports this site was giving earlier, he was talking to 4-6 teams… but you are right, for all I know, the Tribe were the only team willing to sign him.
I could say I’ve talked to every single fortune 500 company about a CEO position but it shouldn’t really count if they hang up on me.
I watch almost every tribe game and I can tell you Mike Bourn is the MOST OVERATTED player in the MLB, Nyjer should be a great bench pick up for speed and hits
Bet Atlanta wishes they had him back.. Look who they replaced him with AND paid more money to 🙂
No, you can keep him. I’ll bet on the younger one. It’s only up here.
If he was able to give teams “hits” off the bench, he wouldn’t have had to go overseas last year to try to earn a Minor League deal this year.
Based on 2013, it is kind of hard to get excited by Bourn. But I actually trust he’s far better than Indians fans saw last season.
Why do the indians keep signing outdielders were are already carrying 6 with additions of morgon and francour. But I still like the signing.
We should give bourn the strike out artist the drew stubbs treatment and ley Nyjer play left with Brantly in center, and murphy/ raburn in right
Hopefully he makes the roster, here are the hitters
Santana
Yan
Swisher
Kipnis
Cabby
Chis
Aviles
Raburn
Murph
Brantly
Bourn
Morgan
Giambi
Just knew we were gonna be the team that signed him.(sigh)
Milton Bradley, part two??
Not sure where he fits into their plans, but if he makes the team, it could be a good fit for him. Why, you ask? Well, Nyjer seems to thrive on a winning team with a relaxed clubhouse. If Cleveland continues like last season, I’d say they very much fit that bill. But, if they start losing a lot this season, I’d expect to see a less productive and less happy Nyjer. If he even makes the team, which could be difficult, considering the other million outfielders the Indians have signed or already had.